Trump Administration Escalates Immigration Crackdown in February 2025
Mass Deportations and Use of Guantanamo Bay
The Trump administration has intensified its immigration policies, launching mass deportations and controversially using Guantanamo Bay as a detention facility for undocumented immigrants. According to The Guardian, at least two flights have transported deported individuals from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Guantanamo Bay since early February 2025.
President Trump signed an executive order preparing Guantanamo to accommodate up to 30,000 deported individuals. His administration aims to deport between 15 and 20 million undocumented immigrants, potentially with military assistance. Critics argue that these actions demonize immigrants and fuel anti-immigrant sentiment nationwide.
Judicial Block on Birthright Citizenship Order
A federal judge, Deborah Boardman, has blocked a controversial executive order from President Trump that sought to restrict birthright citizenship. The order aimed to deny U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil if neither parent is a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Judge Boardman ruled that the order violates the U.S. Constitution and the long-standing principle of granting citizenship to all individuals born in the United States.
Nationwide Protests Against Immigration Policies
Protests have erupted across the country in response to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration measures. Demonstrators are expressing outrage over mass deportations and the administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Activists are using hashtags like #buildtheresistance and #50501 to mobilize against Trump’s immigration crackdown. Protesters warn that these policies threaten civil rights, undermine federal agencies, and damage the nation’s international reputation.
DOJ Shake-Up Under New Attorney General
Newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi has implemented sweeping changes within the Department of Justice. She has formed a special task force to investigate what she calls the politicization of the DOJ, refocusing its priorities on immigration law enforcement.
Bondi has also suspended diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and announced an end to the federal death penalty moratorium. Additionally, the administration is ramping up efforts against so-called sanctuary cities, aiming to eliminate local protections for undocumented immigrants.
These latest developments underscore the Trump administration’s hardline approach to immigration, sparking legal battles, public outrage, and growing resistance from advocacy groups and political opponents.
