Trump Tackles Immigration Issues Left by Biden

Strict enforcement and deportations have been a long-standing feature of U.S. immigration policy.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, including expanded deportations and ICE detention camps, is a response to the 'catch-and-release' policies of the previous Biden administration that allowed an estimated 2 million undocumented immigrants to enter the country. While critics have condemned the scale of deportations, the author argues that Trump's policies are not historically unprecedented and are aimed at addressing public safety and economic concerns tied to illegal immigration.

Why it matters

Immigration has been a central issue for the Trump administration, with promises of harsher enforcement and removal of undocumented immigrants. The crackdown is seen as a necessary response to the surge in illegal immigration under the previous administration, which raised public safety concerns and was linked to job loss and wage suppression for U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.

The details

The Trump administration has been granted expanded authority to carry out its immigration enforcement objectives. This has led to a sharp increase in deportations, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting over 675,000 deportations under Trump, far exceeding the numbers under President Biden. The administration has also expanded ICE detention camps to facilitate these deportations. While critics have condemned the scale of deportations and ICE raids, the author argues that previous administrations, including under Democratic presidents, have carried out comparable or higher levels of deportations.

  • The Trump administration's immigration policies have been implemented over the last year.
  • The surge in illegal immigration under the Biden administration occurred in 2023.
  • The tragic murder of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Chicago by an undocumented immigrant took place on March 19.

The players

President Trump

The current president who has made immigration a central issue, promising harsher enforcement, prosecution, and removal of immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission.

President Biden

The previous president whose 'catch-and-release' approach allowed an estimated 2 million immigrants without proper documents to enter the country, leading to the current crackdown by the Trump administration.

Sheridan Gorman

An 18-year-old who was tragically murdered in Chicago by an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, underscoring the human cost of lax immigration policies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The agency that reported a decrease in southwest border encounters from approximately 300,000 in December 2023 to around 30,000 per month by December 2025, indicating the impact of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.

Department of Homeland Security

The agency that has reported the Trump administration has carried out over 675,000 deportations, far exceeding the numbers under President Biden.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Although critics have condemned the scale of deportations and ICE raids, Trump's approach is not historically unprecedented. Previous administrations, even under Democratic presidents, have carried out comparable or higher levels of deportations.”

— Jersie De Castro, Waipahu High School sophomore

What’s next

The Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts are ongoing, and the human rights concerns and budget issues related to ICE raids and deportations will likely continue to be a focus of debate and scrutiny.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, while controversial, is a response to the surge in illegal immigration under the previous administration and is aimed at addressing public safety and economic concerns. However, the human cost of these policies cannot be ignored, and a balanced and effective immigration policy must address both enforcement and human rights considerations.