Project 2025: A Threat to the future of Immigration Rights
​
By: Maia Ottaggio | 08/16/24
​
As the United States prepares for another election, Project 2025 has emerged as a highly concerning plan for the future of immigration policy under a potential second Trump presidency. This strategy, led by well-known members of the right-wing elite, represents a serious danger to decades of progress made in the area of immigration rights.
In the publication “Mandate for Leadership,” Project 2025 lays out a vision for U.S. immigration policy that, if implemented, could severely undermine the rights and safety of millions of immigrants. Project 2025 is a revival of past policies and a calculated and comprehensive plan aimed at reducing immigration and shifting power from states to the federal government.
Immigrants today account for 13.8% of the U.S. population, and almost 600,000 immigrants are beneficiaries of DACA (pew Research Center, 2024). Project 2025, however, threatens the future of safe and legal immigration by proposing severe restrictions that could drastically alter the diversity of future immigrants. The plan advocates for mass detention and family separation, undermining the care of unaccompanied children by transferring them to DHS for large-scale detention. It also proposes the elimination of family-based immigration and DACA, directly attacking Dreamers and parents of U.S. citizens. The plan removes protections against ICE raids in sensitive areas like schools, hospitals, and religious institutions, opening the door for invasive and disruptive actions. Moreover, it strips immigrants of their due process rights by expanding expedited deportations and empowering DHS to declare a ‘mass migration event,’ allowing for the automatic expulsion of migrants. Project 2025 also encourages using the military against peaceful migrants and considers military action against drug cartels in Mexico. Lastly, the project seeks to severely restrict legal immigration, barring specific groups from work and student visas, eliminating TPS, and reducing asylum protections.
As voters, it’s important to stay informed about the policies being proposed and their potential impacts. When casting your vote, consider the values that matter most to you and the kind of nation and candidates you want to support. Your vote can help prevent the implementation of these policies and change the reality that many immigrants are facing.
​