100 days in: How Trump reshaped US' immigration policy?

In the first 100 days of his second term, US President Donald Trump implemented sweeping changes to immigration policy. The administration focused on restricting migration, expanding enforcement, introducing new immigrant reforms for academic oversight and tightening legal pathways into the United States. These actions mark a continuation and expansion of the policies from his first term.
Expansion of mass deportation
A major policy shift was the stated goal to deport one million undocumented immigrants annually. To support this target, the administration expanded “expedited removal” authority to cover all unauthorized immigrants who cannot prove continuous presence for at least two years. ICE agents were given greater operational freedom, including permission to conduct enforcement actions in schools, hospitals, and places of worship – locations previously considered off-limits. The administration also revived financial penalties for undocumented individuals who fail to depart voluntarily. Local law enforcement agencies were encouraged to sign ICE’s 287(g) agreements with federal authorities, deputising local police to act as immigration agents.
H-1B and skilled worker reforms
The administration introduced new restrictions on H-1B visas by tightening the definition of “specialty occupation,” increasing wage thresholds, and stepping up site audits. These changes aimed to limit the number of foreign skilled workers in industries like IT and engineering. Instructions were issued to prioritize US citizens for all job-based visa programs, aligning with the “Hire American” initiative. Companies sponsoring foreign workers now face higher scrutiny during the visa application process.
“Gold Card” investor visa plan
Trump introduced the concept of a new “Gold Card” visa, offering permanent residency to foreign nationals willing to invest $5 million or more into the U.S. economy. This plan was presented as a replacement for the EB-5 investor visa and was aimed at attracting high-net-worth individuals globally.

During public remarks, Trump noted the program could also benefit Indian graduates of US universities, saying, “We want productive people. Americans can hire them under the Gold Card program.”
Student visa and higher education oversight
Trump directed federal agencies to review and investigate universities with large populations of international students. Visa holders under Optional Practical Training (OPT) were subject to stricter work verification rules.

Some universities were warned of possible funding cuts if they failed to comply with federal guidelines on visa compliance and academic oversight. Additional checks were put in place for F-1 and J-1 visa categories.
Border Security, Use of Troops and Immigration enforcement technology
Trump declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, authorizing the deployment of over 10,000 active-duty military personnel. These forces were tasked with assisting the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) in surveillance, logistics, and construction of additional border infrastructure.
The administration established “National Defense Areas” across multiple border states, allowing the federal government to control public lands. This designation gave the Department of Defense arrest powers over migrants entering these areas.
The administration invested in new enforcement technologies at ports of entry and in interior enforcement. This included expanded use of facial recognition systems, biometric tracking, and aerial surveillance drones. A new database system was rolled out to improve information-sharing between immigration, labour, and law enforcement agencies.

The immigration actions taken in the first 100 days marked a sharp escalation in enforcement and a reduction in both legal and humanitarian immigration avenues. While a few proposals like the Gold Card aimed at economic benefit, the majority of changes focused on deterring entry, speeding up removals, and narrowing eligibility for various visa programs.