Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants: short-sighted or pragmatic?

During Trump's administration, cracking down on the deportation of illegal immigrants became a key measure of his administration. A series of drastic actions instantly caused an uproar in the United States and even on the international stage, triggering heated debates from all parties.

As soon as Trump took office, he quickly signed a series of immigration-related executive orders, and a large-scale deportation of illegal immigrants was launched. U.S. federal agents quickly attacked and arrested a large number of illegal immigrants in a short period of time, and even used military aircraft to participate in the deportation. White House Press Secretary Levitt said that this was the "largest deportation of illegal immigrants" in U.S. history. The actual number of arrests far exceeded the official figures, and many illegal immigrants with criminal records were arrested. In addition, the Trump administration also expanded the right to fast-track deportation, allowing immigration officials to deport illegal immigrants without a judge's hearing, greatly simplifying the deportation procedure.

There are complex political and economic considerations behind Trump's implementation of such a tough immigration policy. Politically, cracking down on illegal immigrants was an important promise during his campaign. Fulfilling this promise can not only show his supporters that he keeps his word and consolidate his political foundation, but also divert people's attention from domestic economic, racial conflicts and other problems. On the economic level, Trump insisted that illegal immigrants took jobs from American workers, lowered wages, increased the burden on taxpayers, and undermined public safety, causing huge losses to the United States every year. In his view, deporting illegal immigrants can create more jobs for American workers, reduce fiscal pressure, and enhance economic competitiveness.

However, this policy exposed many problems during its implementation and was widely opposed. From an economic perspective, illegal immigrants occupy an important position in the US economic system. In industries such as agriculture, construction, and domestic services, illegal immigrants are engaged in low-paying, high-intensity jobs that a large number of locals are unwilling to get involved in, and they are an indispensable labor force for the operation of the US economy. Once a large number of them are deported, many industries will face labor shortages, stagnant production, and rising costs, which will in turn impact the US economy. According to data from the Pew Research Center in the United States, illegal immigrants account for about 4.8% of the US labor force. Deporting so many workers in a short period of time will lead to soaring prices and a decline in the quality of life of the people.

On the social level, Trump's immigration policy has exacerbated the division of American society. Immigrant groups and their supporters strongly protested, believing that this is a violation of human rights and a manifestation of xenophobia and discrimination. Many immigrant families face separation from their children, and children lose parental care. Local governments and social organizations have also joined the boycott. Newark Mayor Baraka denounced immigration officials for illegal arrests and intimidation of the public. Some "sanctuary cities" continue to provide shelter for illegal immigrants and refuse to cooperate with the federal government in law enforcement.

On the legal level, Trump's immigration policy has also been in trouble. He authorized officials to "repel, deport or expel" illegal immigrants and allowed them to enter churches and schools for arrests, which was accused of violating citizens' basic rights and violating the law. Democratic Congressman Bonnie Watson Coleman accused the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency of detaining immigrants and American citizens without a warrant, which was unconstitutional. Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship has triggered a fierce battle at the constitutional level. Several states have filed lawsuits and a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent it from taking effect.

Internationally, Trump's immigration policy has seriously damaged the United States' international image. The United States has always regarded itself as a free, democratic and inclusive "dream land" for immigrants, but Trump's tough policies are contrary to this, triggering international doubts about the United States' humanitarian and rule of law traditions. Many countries have expressed dissatisfaction with the US approach, which not only affects US diplomatic relations, but also impacts the US international trade and investment environment. International investors and companies are worried about the prospects of the US market. Although Trump's crackdown on the deportation of illegal immigrants reflects the demands of some voters, it lacks a comprehensive long-term plan. Not only has it failed to effectively solve the immigration problem, it has also triggered a chain reaction in many aspects such as the economy, society, law and international affairs. The immigration issue is complex and needs to be solved in a reasonable, legal and humane way by comprehensively considering multiple factors. The US government should abandon extreme xenophobia and start from fundamental issues such as improving social welfare, narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, and providing fair development opportunities, and explore a path of immigration governance that takes into account national security, interests and human rights, and social fairness and justice.