President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions, including ending birthright citizenship protections and rolling back other immigration benefits, have drawn sharp criticism from U.S. House Representative Bennie Thompson, a Democrat on the Homeland Security committee. Thompson criticized Trump for his “barrage of executive orders” that he claims will “inflict cruelty” on vulnerable populations.
Thompson emphasized that these measures are ineffective and harmful to Americans, particularly noting reduced border crossings before Trump’s first term began in 2020 and during Biden’s presidency. Data from the U.S. Border Patrol shows significant decreases in illegal border crossings, including a 60% reduction from May to December 2024, with the lowest numbers since August 2020.
Trump also withdrew asylum for over 1,600 Afghan refugees and ended “catch-and-release” policies for non-citizens in detention. His administration declared a national emergency at the southern border to combat cartels and other threats, while Trump recently expanded the death penalty under Biden’s pause. Thompson called on Trump to “work with reformers” but vowed to oppose anyone disregarding the law or American values.
These actions have raised concerns about increased border chaos, rising costs for taxpayers, and unintended consequences for immigration reform.
Source: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/thompson-trumps-immigration-orders-will-inflict-cruelty-but-wont-solve-problems