The Human Cost of the Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies
by Ellie Conover, Communications Intern
This guest post does not necessarily reflect the views or expertise of Human Rights First.
Since day one of his second term, President Trump has drastically and negatively impacted the lives of people seeking asylum and protection in the United States by introducing punitive immigration policies. As a result of his unlawful acts undermining long-standing legal protections, many migrants, refugee families, and individuals have been forced into homelessness.
Trump threatened mass deportations and arrests in his campaign – a promise he began fulfilling within just the first few months of his time in office. On the fourth day of the Trump administration, ICE recorded over 1,000 removals and deportations of refugees. It only escalated from there.
At the same time, the Trump Administration halted the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program, turning away thousands of people seeking asylum without a hearing.
BBC reported an estimated 3.6 million cases being held off due to these actions, leaving families and individuals stranded, often homeless, and fearing for their lives.
As deportations continue to rise under the Trump administration, many migrant families and individuals are increasingly afraid to seek help in fear that asking for it could result in detention or deportation. Most fled their home countries to escape violence, only to live in fear here as well.
Christine Quinn, CEO of Women In Need (WIN), a New York-based homeless shelter, highlighted the broader effects of Trump’s agenda, including the influence of Project 2025 – a conservative blueprint that would continue to erode immigrants and vulnerable individuals.
“Make no mistake about it. Project 2025 is an attack on homeless people, on children, on low-income people, on immigrants, documented and undocumented, and many other Americans,” Quinn said. “New York City has a message for you about Project 2025, and it’s Project 2025, drop dead.”
Image courtesy of G.N.Miller/NYPost.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), New York experienced a 53% rise in homelessness last year—the highest per capita rate in the nation—driven in part by an influx of migrants housed in the city and unable to secure work permits. Without the ability to earn an income, many families were forced into shelters. The HUD stated that migrants staying in emergency shelters throughout New York City’s five boroughs “accounted for almost 88% of the increase in sheltered homelessness.”
In other cities like Washington D.C., migrants are struggling to maintain stability once they leave housing sites provided by the Office of Migrant Services (OMS). The OMS system is meant to house and support migrant individuals and families while tailoring to their specific needs.
A Colombian migrant mother shared her experience going through OMS and the realities of life after support comes to an end.
“I don’t have a work permit at all,” said Mandi Rivera. “I am a mother and head of household, I was thinking: ‘What am I going to do?’”
Despite the help and support available through OMS, Rivera said she had no help finding permanent housing for her and her children.
The process to gain work permits for many migrant individuals is a long and difficult road, forcing them to survive long periods of time with no income and no place to call home. Vulnerable migrant families need support during this period and more funding for programs that can provide them a safety net as long as necessary.
Trump’s direct funding cuts and mass firings of national organizations like the HUD have led to more individuals on the streets and often left them wondering when or if ICE would target them next.
Anne Olivia, who is now the CEO at the National Alliance to End Homelessness after spending a decade with HUD, understands the trauma that will follow for all those working in the direct support industry and as well as the individuals who are benefiting from these programs and organizations.
In the last few days of the Biden administration, President Biden pushed through funding to HUD and other homelessness programs; however, the funds failed to transfer once Trump took office. Olivia suspects that the stoppage could be related to Trump’s goals in shrinking the HUD and all related programs.
Children. Migrants. Homeless families. These are human beings in crisis needing compassion now more than ever. It is essential to reallocate money into programs that can support vulnerable populations without punishing or threatening them. Consistent national funding cuts under the Trump administration are detrimental to low-income, migrant, and vulnerable communities, and as these policies continue, the effects will only get worse.
