Following Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s election as president, advisers warned that his immigration policies could lead to substantial challenges. Biden's commitment to a more humane treatment of unauthorized immigrants, in stark contrast to former President Donald J. Trump's policies—such as the separation of migrant children from their families—was met with caution. Experts indicated that Biden's proposed policies might result in a significant increase in border crossings, potentially leading to a political crisis. This warning was articulated during a late 2020 briefing, where the situation was described as 'chaos.' Despite these concerns, Biden and his senior aides did not implement the recommended deterrent measures.

After Biden's inauguration, encounters with migrants at the southern border surged, doubling and continuing to rise, which overwhelmed border facilities and affected cities like New York and Denver. This situation has contributed to a resurgence of political support for Trump, who has since adopted even more stringent immigration policies, including the deployment of masked agents and National Guard personnel to enforce immigration laws. These actions have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

In a related context, a shooting incident in November 2025 involving a recent immigrant from Afghanistan prompted Trump to intensify his anti-immigrant rhetoric. The assailant, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had been granted asylum in the U.S. in 2021. Trump's comments following the incident focused on Lakanwal's origins rather than the well-being of the injured guards, and he proposed a permanent pause on immigration from all 'Third World Countries.' This rhetoric has raised concerns about the implications for immigrant communities, particularly the Somali community in Minnesota, which has faced increased scrutiny and hostility.

The Trump administration has ramped up enforcement actions through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeting cities with significant immigrant populations. Critics argue that these operations could lead to the detention of individuals without criminal records. Additionally, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a proposed travel ban on unspecified countries, echoing earlier controversial travel restrictions. Legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of these actions, suggesting they may violate established immigration laws.

As the political landscape evolves, some observers suggest that Trump's rhetoric may be a response to declining approval ratings and electoral challenges faced by the Republican Party. The implications of these policies extend beyond political discourse, affecting the lives of many immigrants and legal residents in the U.S.