Then there was the post that set off a new round of debate. President Trump took to Truth Social to make the case that if you let in migrants from the developing world, you end up being one yourself. It went viral in a hurry, and in doing so, he has put his foot down on a campaign pledge while at the same time running headlong into the kind of policy overhauls that will have an effect on everything from hiring to residency.
Policy drive behind the rhetoric
Put aside the sound bites and the administration is in the process of ratcheting up some old procedures. There’s a plan on the table from earlier in the year: most with a temporary visa or humanitarian parole would have to be out of the country while they wait for their green card to be looked at.
The only way around it is under some very specific ‘extraordinary’ conditions. You won’t find that in the way things have been done, where an applicant could just stay put. This is a move to close off some of the in-country options and put a different spin on the incentives.
The message that lit the fuse
‘If you import The Third World, you become The Third World!’ was how Trump put it on Truth Social. He made it plain: ‘Sadly, if you import people from Third World Countries, you quickly become a Third World Country – And there’s not a thing you can do about it. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
H-1B overhaul meets legal pushback
Right in the middle of the administration’s plans for legal immigration is a reworking of the H-1B. They want to see a $100,000 price tag for the application and to do away with the lottery in favour of a system that puts wages and skills first.
A federal judge has put a stop to the fee hike for now, but the Justice Department is appealing, so the idea of higher costs is still in play. For the companies that rely on the H-1B to put skilled workers on the payroll, it is the main point of contention.
Border clampdown stays central
Even as they tinker with the rules, the White House is making sure the US-Mexico border is seen as a priority. Trump has been on record many times that you can’t have too much control there if you want to put a lid on illegal crossings, drugs, and the like.
It is a constant in any conversation about policy, and it is what he uses to connect with his base.
Why the words matter now
Don’t read the post as something out of left field; it is a sign of where the wind is blowing. The administration is matching its tone with action to put a new face on migration, whether it’s by the book or not. All of a sudden, the norms and the fine print are up for grabs.
The White House will tell you it is about putting American workers and their paychecks first. It is the same ‘America First’ line that has been with him since day one of his first run for office.
Economic and political stakes
We will be watching to see how the H-1B appeal and the green card plan are received by the businesses and universities that deal with these issues. If you are an applicant in the U.S., there is a cloud of uncertainty as to whether you’ll be asked to leave. Employers are having to plan for a new set of rules.
And on the border, it is still the issue that gets everyone talking. A little more pressure here and there can have an impact on the numbers and the politics for the next round of policy wrangling.
In short, this is what is in the works:
– H-1B fee put forward at $100,000
– No more lottery; it will be about who has the skills and the wage
– The fee was put on hold by a judge
– An appeal from the Justice Department
– Some green card hopefuls may have to go home and wait
– The focus on the border is not going anywhere
What comes next
You have two things happening at once: the kind of messaging that makes headlines and the nitty-gritty in the courts and agencies. How the H-1B case is resolved, and what happens with the green card proposal, will show us if the administration can make these ideas stick.
With his last post, Trump has made it clear that immigration is the story of his second term. Now we have to see if the policy keeps up with the talk.
