Donald Trump, in his second term as U.S. President, is moving swiftly to implement his agenda. His focus centers on two major issues: a tough crackdown on immigration and sweeping changes to the federal government. According to a CNN Politics report, Trump advanced his plans on March 23, including issuing a notice to terminate the parole status of 530,000 immigrants, set to take effect on April 24, 2025.
During his election campaign, Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration, and now he’s working to make good on that pledge. CNN reports that the Trump administration recently took a significant step by deciding to end the parole status of 530,000 immigrants living in the U.S. under this program. These individuals, mostly admitted for temporary protection or humanitarian reasons, will lose their legal status as of April 24, 2025, potentially facing deportation thereafter.
But this is just the beginning. A Reuters report indicates that Trump deported 37,660 people in the past month, a figure lower than the monthly average of 57,000 during Joe Biden’s final year in office.
Trump has called this an “historic cleanup,” though critics argue the numbers are more symbolic than transformative, pointing to a less impactful reality on the ground. Still, Trump has made it clear he’s keeping an eye on green card holders and students as well.
According to another CNN report, an attempt to deport a pro-Palestinian activist from Columbia University was blocked by a court, suggesting Trump’s targets extend beyond just undocumented immigrants to include individuals with specific ideologies.
Trump’s second major agenda is to “streamline” the federal government. He’s working on plans to eliminate or overhaul several departments. The Education Department is in his crosshairs.
On March 22, Trump announced he’s moving to dismantle it, with its student loan portfolio slated for transfer to the Small Business Administration. Additionally, there’s talk of reforming or even abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Trump’s ally, billionaire Elon Musk, is also part of this mission. Through their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), thousands of federal workers have been laid off. Trump and Musk claim to have cut government spending by $8.9 billion, though no concrete evidence has been provided to back this up. Democrats are calling it “chaos,” while Trump supporters hail it as a victory for “America First.”
Legal battles are mounting against Trump’s moves. CNN notes that a federal judge questioned Trump’s use of the “Alien Enemies Act” to deport Venezuelan gang members, calling it “frightening” and arguing the law should only apply during wartime. Public opinion, meanwhile, remains divided. Some Americans support Trump’s tough stance, especially on border security, but others feel these changes are being rushed through without proper consideration.