former president trump Amid the ongoing debate over Haitian migration, he has vowed to “protect our cities” from a “migrant invasion,” and outlined his plan to cut several immigration programs if re-elected to the White House.
“As President I will immediately end the invasion of immigrants into America,” Trump said in a social media post on Sunday.
Trump has spent much of his campaign promising to secure the southern border. Last week he said he wanted to be known as the “border president” and has previously promised to launch a massive deportation effort.
However, on Sunday he also focused on broader immigration policies, some of which were not directly related to the southern border or illegal immigration — including ending the Biden-era use of humanitarian parole and suspending refugee resettlement.
He said, “We will stop all migrant flights, end all illegal entries, eliminate the Kamala phone app for illegal people smuggling (CBP One app), revoke deportation immunity, suspend refugee resettlement, and send Kamala’s illegal migrants back to their home countries (also known as remigration).”
The comments come after a wave of Haitian migrants arrived in the small town of Springfield, Ohio. During last week’s presidential debate, Trump repeated viral claims that migrants have been seen eating pets and animals.
“In Springfield they’re eating dogs, people who come in there are eating cats,” Trump said. “They’re eating the pets of the people who live there.”
Focus group reacts to Trump’s claim that migrants are ‘eating dogs’ in Ohio town
Officers in Springfield The claim has been refuted, saying there is no evidence or confirmed reports of such incidents. But local residents have expressed concern and anger at how the arrival of more than 12,000 migrants from the poor country has affected their community.
Former President Trump participates in a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity on September 4, 2024 at the New Holland Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Trump’s proposals identified ways to limit the number of pathways for others, including Haitians, to legally enter or remain in the U.S., which have either been created or expanded under the Biden administration.
Trump’s reference to migrant flights appears to point to this Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan parole process, under which 30,000 immigrants from those countries are allowed to enter each month and remain in the US on parole for 18 months. Trump could end CHNV, and also limit the renewal of parole authorization.
Trump also mentioned ending “deportation immunity,” which refers to temporary protected status, which protects citizens of specified countries from deportation and grants them work permits. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro MayorkasRecently, Haiti has been extended and re-designated for TPS until February 2026.
The city of Springfield said in an official FAQ that the city has approximately 12,000-15,000 immigrants from Haiti who have come to the city via parole and have been granted protection through TPS.
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Trump also said he would stop using the “Kamala phone app” – the CBP One app. The app was introduced during the Trump administration but was expanded by the Biden administration to allow migrants to make appointments to go on parole into the US at ports of entry. Currently, about 1,450 migrants are being paroled into the US every day under the app. Republicans have said its use is an abuse of parole – which is limited on a case-by-case basis to those of vital public benefit or urgent humanitarian need.
Trump also promised to suspend refugee resettlement, which had dropped significantly under the Trump administration. In its final year in office, the administration capped refugees at just 15,000 per year. That cap has risen to 125,000 under President Biden.
Trump said in his social media post, “I will save our cities and towns in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and all across America. #MAGA2024!”
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The plans would be a sharp departure from the Biden administration, which has significantly expanded its “legal pathways” as part of its strategy to tackle the historic crisis at the southern border. It has also criticized Trump for not supporting a bipartisan bill that would increase funding to border agencies and limit the entry of some people into the U.S. if they reach a certain level.
