Executive Order 14159
Protecting the American People Against Invasion
Signed on January 20, 2025
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14159, which expands immigration enforcement, revokes several Biden-era policies, and increases federal and local cooperation in deportation efforts. The order mandates the detention and removal of undocumented immigrants, reinstates harsh enforcement measures, and limits asylum protections. It directs federal agencies to prioritize immigration enforcement, strengthen border security, and penalize states and localities that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
🔗 Read the Executive Order on the Federal Register
🔗 Read the White House Announcement
What You Should Know
This order revokes Biden-era immigration policies and increases deportations.
The executive order rescinds multiple immigration policies put in place by the previous administration, including efforts to reunite separated families, expand asylum protections, and implement regional migration management strategies. The order directs agencies to revoke any guidance or policies that were based on these executive orders and instead mandates the strict enforcement of immigration laws. The administration is prioritizing immediate removals, detentions, and increased deportation proceedings, bypassing many legal safeguards.
The order expands immigration enforcement and local law enforcement involvement.
The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security to increase its detention capacity and authorize new detention facilities for holding individuals awaiting deportation. It also expands the 287(g) program, which allows local and state law enforcement agencies to act as immigration officers. This program has been criticized for encouraging racial profiling and wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens and legal residents. The order also creates Homeland Security Task Forces across all states, increasing federal law enforcement coordination on immigration enforcement.
Sanctuary cities and states will face penalties and funding cuts.
The order seeks to punish states and localities that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement by blocking their access to federal funds. Sanctuary policies, which limit local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement to promote community trust, will be targeted under this order. By cutting funding, the administration is pressuring state and local governments to comply with mass deportation efforts, even if such policies undermine local public safety initiatives.
Asylum seekers and protected immigrants will face new barriers to legal status.
The order rolls back Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or political instability. It also limits the use of humanitarian parole, which allows individuals to enter or remain in the U.S. under urgent circumstances. These changes will affect thousands of people who previously had protection under U.S. immigration law, putting them at risk of deportation to dangerous conditions.
Civil fines and penalties for undocumented immigrants and their supporters will increase.
The order mandates the collection of civil fines and penalties from undocumented immigrants and those who provide them with housing, employment, or transportation. It also orders an audit of federal contracts, grants, and agreements with organizations that assist undocumented immigrants, with the goal of terminating financial support. This move could affect non-profit organizations, legal aid groups, and humanitarian services that provide essential assistance to immigrants.
Who Wins?
Private prison and detention facility operators.
The expansion of immigration detention facilities means increased profits for private prison companies that contract with the federal government to house detainees. These corporations have a history of human rights violations, including overcrowding, medical neglect, and abuse within detention centers. This order ensures that the demand for private detention facilities will increase, leading to lucrative government contracts.
Hardline immigration enforcement advocates.
This order fulfills long-standing demands from anti-immigrant groups and right-wing politicians who have pushed for mass deportations and expanded enforcement. By revoking Biden-era policies, increasing deportations, and penalizing sanctuary jurisdictions, the order aligns with a nationalist immigration agenda that seeks to restrict pathways to legal status and make life more difficult for undocumented immigrants.
Politicians who benefit from anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The framing of this order as a necessary measure to combat an “invasion” plays into the political narratives pushed by far-right politicians. The use of such rhetoric has been linked to anti-immigrant violence and policies that disproportionately harm immigrant communities. The order allows Trump and his allies to rally support by portraying immigration as a national security crisis, even though studies show that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens and contribute significantly to the economy.
Who Loses?
Immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
This order directly targets undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and individuals with temporary protected status, increasing their risk of detention and deportation. Families will be separated, asylum seekers will face more barriers to legal entry, and individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years under humanitarian protections will be forced to leave. The rollback of parole programs and asylum protections will result in more people being deported to unsafe conditions.
Local law enforcement and public safety initiatives.
Forcing local police to act as immigration agents disrupts trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Studies show that when immigrants fear deportation, they are less likely to report crimes, cooperate with investigations, or seek protection from law enforcement. The order’s crackdown on sanctuary cities will make communities less safe by discouraging crime reporting and cooperation with local authorities.
U.S. citizens and legal residents caught in enforcement actions.
The increased use of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement has historically led to wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens and legal residents who were mistakenly identified as undocumented. Racial profiling and unconstitutional detentions have been well-documented under previous expansions of immigration enforcement, meaning more American citizens could be affected by wrongful arrests and immigration holds.
Businesses and industries that rely on immigrant labor.
Many sectors of the U.S. economy, including agriculture, construction, and service industries, depend on immigrant labor. Mass deportations and restrictive immigration policies will contribute to labor shortages, increased costs for consumers, and economic instability in industries that rely on immigrant workers. The crackdown on employers and fines for those hiring undocumented immigrants will create uncertainty and potential economic losses for businesses.
Executive Order 14159 represents one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement measures in modern U.S. history. It revokes policies that provided humanitarian protections, penalizes states and cities that do not cooperate with federal enforcement efforts, and increases detention and deportation without due process. The framing of this order as necessary for national security plays into fear-based narratives that have been widely debunked.
Rather than addressing real immigration challenges through policy reforms, this order prioritizes punitive measures that will cause widespread harm to families, businesses, and communities. Immigrants play a crucial role in the U.S. economy and society, yet this order treats them as threats rather than contributors. The economic, social, and legal consequences of these policies will be felt nationwide, affecting millions of people regardless of immigration status.
Take Action
Stay informed and challenge misinformation about immigration policy.
Misinformation about immigration is widespread, and fear-based rhetoric is often used to justify harsh policies. Research factual sources, share accurate information, and push back against false narratives that misrepresent the impact of immigration on crime, the economy, and public safety.
Support organizations that provide legal assistance and immigrant advocacy.
Legal aid organizations, immigrant rights groups, and humanitarian services will be on the front lines fighting back against this order. Support groups that provide legal defense, policy advocacy, and direct assistance to affected communities.
Contact your representatives and demand fair immigration policies.
Lawmakers have the power to push back against harmful executive actions by introducing legislation that protects immigrant rights and prevents federal overreach. Call your representatives and urge them to support humane, evidence-based immigration policies.
Misinformation and fear should not dictate immigration policy. Stay informed, advocate for fair and just policies, and hold leaders accountable for the real-life consequences of their decisions.
