This post was originally published on Word In Black.
By: Felicia J. Persaud
Much has been said recently about Project 2025, particularly regarding its implications for issues like abortion and transgender rights. However, a critical aspect that has not received sufficient attention is what this initiative could mean for immigrants if Donald Trump and the Republicans win in November.
The document “2025—Mandate for Leadership—A Conservative Promise,” by Ken Cuccinelli, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from 2019 to 2021 in the Trump administration, outlines a vision for U.S. immigration policy that should raise serious concerns for everyone, especially immigrants. This “vision” would rely heavily on executive actions and proposes sweeping changes that could dramatically reshape the immigration landscape.
Among the most alarming proposals is the consolidation of key immigration agencies—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)—into a single, standalone border and immigration agency at the cabinet level. This consolidation would not only create a massive bureaucracy with more than 100,000 employees, but also centralize power in a way that could significantly affect the lives of immigrants. By merging ICE and CBP into a Border Security and Immigration Agency (BSIA), the proposal aims to strengthen enforcement. But at what cost? The history of these agencies raises alarms about how such power might be wielded, especially against vulnerable immigrant populations.
Project 2025 also advocates for the aggressive use of military personnel and hardware to enforce border security, including preventing illegal crossings between ports of entry. This militarization of immigration enforcement echoes troubling times in history when force was used to control, rather than protect, human beings.
The plan also seeks to limit the classes of immigrants eligible for work authorization, end Guest Worker Visas, and maintain the cap on H-2B (seasonal non-agricultural) visas, as well as calling for eliminating the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, leaving no independent oversight to protect immigrant’ rights.
The restrictions don’t stop there. Project 2025 also proposes limiting the use of T and U visas, which protect victims of trafficking and crime, undermining the protections for those who need them most. The plan includes repealing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and transforming the H1-B program into an elite mechanism exclusively for the “best and brightest” at the highest wages.
Further, the proposal seeks to remove immigration judges from the Department of Justice and place them under DHS, potentially eroding the independence of the judiciary and turning immigration judges into mere enforcers of a harsh immigration policy.
For immigrants already in the U.S., Project 2025 would be likely to lead to increased deportations, reduced access to humanitarian protections, and a greater risk of being swept up in a system that treats immigrants as threats rather than contributors to American society. The proposal includes mandating the use of E-Verify, denying loans and federal assistance to non-citizens and non-permanent residents, and significantly restricting the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) by reducing or ending visas for students from “enemy nations.”
Moreover, it suggests requiring states or localities applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid to commit to total information-sharing for both federal law enforcement and immigration enforcement. This could include access to motor vehicle and voter registration databases, further marginalizing immigrant communities.
The potential impacts of Project 2025 on immigrants are profound and deeply concerning. This is not just a political document; it is a blueprint for the lives of millions of people who seek the American Dream yet may find themselves in an increasingly hostile environment. As immigrant voters and allies, we must remain vigilant and proactive. The time to help protect the rights of all people—regardless of their immigration status—is now, and that begins with our vote this November. The stakes are too high for complacency.
This is not just about an election or immigration; it’s about the soul of America and whether we will continue to uphold the values of diversity, inclusion, and opportunity that have made this country great. We must ensure that our voices are heard on November 5, and that the policies shaping the future of immigration in America are fair, just, and humane.