American Immigration Council Report Trumps Immigration Policies Corrosive To The Rule Of Law
American Immigration Council Details Trump’s ‘Radical’ Immigration Attack, Warns of Democracy Erosion
Nairobi, Kenya – July 29, 2025 – A bombshell report released just days ago by the American Immigration Council, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, paints a stark picture of the Trump administration’s initial six months in office, detailing an “extreme immigration overhaul” that the Council warns is eroding the very foundations of American democracy. The report, titled “Mass Deportation: Analyzing the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Immigrants, Democracy, and America,” published on July 23, asserts that the administration’s actions far exceed typical policy shifts, actively undermining the rule of law.
The comprehensive analysis by the American Immigration Council highlights how the current administration has launched a multi-front assault on immigrants and the U.S. immigration system. These actions include severely restricting pathways to legal entry, stripping legal protections from individuals already residing in the U.S., and escalating enforcement measures to unprecedented levels.
In the process, the report argues, the administration has systematically dismantled long-standing legal safeguards, disregarded the authority of Congress and the courts, and weaponized governmental power against both immigrants and those who dissent.
“This isn’t just a hardline immigration agenda,” stated Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council and co-author of the report. “It’s a wholesale effort to use immigrants and the U.S. immigration system to attack core tenets of our democracy and exercise unchecked executive power to realign the American government around exclusion and fear.”
Key findings from the report reveal a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy:
- The End of Asylum: The report states that asylum at the southern border is effectively non-existent. The CBP One application has been shut down without replacement, asylum-seekers are being turned away at ports of entry, and some are reportedly detained indefinitely even after winning their cases.
- Demolishing the Refugee Program: The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been indefinitely suspended, with the notable exception of white South Africans, who have been fast-tracked via executive order under what the report describes as “dubious persecution claims.” This has left tens of thousands of approved refugees stranded abroad.
- Mass Revocation of Legal Status: In a mere six months, the administration has aggressively revoked humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from over a million individuals, leading to the loss of work permits and pushing many into undocumented status.
- Weaponizing Bureaucracy: Legal immigration pathways are being deliberately obstructed through massive fee hikes, processing freezes, and opaque barriers, making it nearly impossible for even lawful applicants to obtain or maintain their status.
- A Maelstrom of Fear and Chaos: The aggressive enforcement tactics employed by the Trump administration have fostered an environment of constant worry for immigrants of all legal statuses regarding their daily and future safety. The report notes that anyone can be targeted for arrest, detention, and deportation, anywhere, including places previously considered safe havens like churches, schools, and courthouses.
- Radical Reorganization of Law Enforcement Resources: The administration is reportedly creating an unprecedented, cross-agency immigration operation, drawing manpower from various federal and state law enforcement agencies, and even the U.S. military. This prioritizes immigration enforcement above all other public safety and law enforcement objectives.
- Turbocharging an Inhumane Detention System: The recently enacted “Big Beautiful Bill Act” in July has dramatically increased ICE’s detention budget by 308% annually. The report warns that this expansion is poised to further exacerbate a detention system already criticized for its “careless and cruel management,” which has led to life-threatening conditions for tens of thousands of immigrants.
The report includes powerful firsthand accounts that underscore the human impact of these policy changes:
- Ilia, a nonbinary Russian dissident, won their asylum case but remained in detention for over a year without a release date.
- Axel, a DACA recipient and youth leader, is abandoning his job to return to school due to uncertainty surrounding his legal status.
- Beatriz, an immigrant lawyer, highlights the struggles of noncitizen children in court, citing a confused six-year-old who appeared without representation.
- Kaelyn is incurring significant debt to prevent her partner’s deportation to El Salvador’s “megaprison” under the Alien Enemies Act.
While acknowledging that some policies may face legal challenges, the report warns that the administration’s overarching agenda is clear: to permanently redefine who belongs in America and how federal government power is exercised.
“The administration’s policies are reshaping the immigration system in ways that are unfair, unlawful, and out of step with core American values,” added Dara Lind, senior fellow at the Council and co-author of the report. “We’re seeing real harm to families, communities, and the rule of law, and the public deserves to understand what’s at stake.”
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