On January 21, 2025, the Trump administration signed a range of executive Borders that will profoundly impact immigration in the U.S. and put the lives of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people at risk. Read a letter here from Episcopal Church leaders on the recent Trump administration immigration executive orders.
Summary of Executive Orders
- Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program
- UPDATE on 1/22/2025: News surfaced overnight that refugees scheduled to travel – even before the effective date of the refugee ban executive order (January 27) – will have their bookings CANCELED. This means that practically, the refugee ban is being implemented early, before January 27.
- Refugee admissions are suspended effective January 27, 2025, with limited case-by-case exceptions.
- Directs review of laws to increase state and local involvement in refugee placement decisions.
- Requires an initial report by the Dept of Homeland Security and Dept of State within 90 days on the potential resumption of USRAP, with subsequent reviews every 90 days.
- Section-by-Section Analysis of USRAP EO – January 20, 2025
- RCUSA Policy Fact Sheet: Refugee Ban
- Rescinding Biden-Era Immigration Policies:
- Revokes multiple Biden-era executive orders related to immigration, including family reunification efforts and civil immigration enforcement priorities.
- National Emergency at the Southern Border:
- Declares a national emergency, deploying the Armed Forces to support Homeland Security operations at the border.
- Prioritizes preventing unauthorized crossings and enhancing border security.
- Ending Birthright Citizenship:
- Reinterprets the Fourteenth Amendment to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporarily present parents.
- Securing the Southern Border:
- Mandates constructing border barriers, increasing personnel, and reinstating policies like “Remain in Mexico.”
- Protecting Against Invasion:
- Revokes Biden-era immigration orders and sets stricter enforcement priorities for removal, prosecution, and detention.
- Expands collaboration with state/local law enforcement, increases detention facilities, and limits funding for sanctuary cities and organizations supporting undocumented individuals.
- Implements expedited removal, visa bond systems, and sanctions against uncooperative countries.
- Military Involvement in Border Security
- States that the Department of Defense (DOD) will send personnel to the border, require the DOD to erect barriers, and greenlight the use of drones and other surveillance measures.
- Halting Asylum Processing:
- Suspends asylum claims at the southern border if reliable medical or criminal information cannot be obtained.
- Orders the removal or repelling of noncitizens attempting to enter.
Take Action to Support Our Refugee and Immigrant Neighbors
- Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations Action Alerts to Congress:
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- Advocate for refugees and the U.S. Refugee Admissions program, including the resumption of travel for refugees who have already been vetted and approved for admission.
- Support additional programs that protect vulnerable groups of people, including Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and humanitarian parole.
- Stand against mass deportation, which would have severe consequences for our communities and economy.
- Protect “Dreamers,” who were brought to the United States as children and have lived here most of their lives. The long-standing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that offers a respite from the fear of deportation is at risk, and Congress must take action.
- Say “No” to Expanding Detention
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- Attend bi-weekly Episcopal Church Immigration Updates: Please join Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations for regular 30-minute updates on U.S. immigration policy and the responses in our churches and communities. Spanish interpretation will be available. Tuesdays, biweekly, at 1pm ET/12pm CT/10am MT/9am PT. REGISTER: Meeting Registration – Zoom
- Join the Episcopal Migration Response Network: EMM hosts an Episcopal Migration Response Network that meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The Network’s collaborative work and conversations focus on best practice-sharing in the areas of direct service, organizing, advocacy actions, Christian formation and worship resources, and community education to protect asylum, promote humane and dignified alternatives to detention, and support asylum seekers and those harmed by the immigration detention system. Register to attend meetings here. All are welcome to attend.
- Continue to educate yourself, your congregation and your community to understand the facts and laws regarding immigration in the U.S. and to know and exercise your rights as you move through your daily lives. See our Essential Resources for Immigrant Families page, which continues to be updated, with helpful tools.