“Gas on a Dumpster Fire:” Immigration Under Trump 2.0

The right to seek asylum or refuge from danger is a fundamental human right. It’s protected by both international and U.S. law.

But Donald Trump wants to eliminate that right, including for the most vulnerable: children. These children are often forced to cross the border without their parents to try and claim asylum in the United States.

I spoke with Arlene Rodriguez, Esteffany Luna, and Esther Ramos, who provide legal and social services to unaccompanied migrant youth in Texas. They gave me a glimpse into the daunting obstacles faced by young asylum seekers.

Nearly a third of new cases in immigration court are minors, I learned, with 1 out of 8 being 0-4 years old.

But these children are expected to navigate the same complex processes as adults. “They have to sign their own agreements and applications, present themselves in court, and answer the judges’ questions,” said Ramos. “They’re treated very adversarially — not much different from adults.”

“Sometimes they’re so young they don’t understand what they’re being asked to do, or what is being asked of them,” Luna added.

Asylum applicants have to undergo “credible fear” screenings to convince authorities that it’s unsafe for them to go home. In interviews, documents, and court appearances, children are required to repeatedly disclose trauma, which takes a toll. “For older kids who are more conscious of the bad things they’ve experienced, it’s difficult to deal with having someone else know about it,” Rodriguez told me.

Unaccompanied minors with legal representation are nearly 100 times more likely to be granted relief than those without. But unfortunately, there’s no right to an attorney in immigration court, and pro bono legal services are scarce. And the few hard-won protections minors do have are at risk of being undermined as Trump retakes office.

During his first term, President Trump tried to terminate the 1997 Flores agreement, which set standards for the care and release of children in federal immigration custody. He gutted asylum qualifications, removing domestic and gang violence as reasons to obtain protection. And most notoriously, his “zero-tolerance” policy forcibly separated over 5,000 children from their parents in immigration custody.

Under a policy called Title 42, many asylum applicants were turned away altogether, violating their due process. Under “Remain in Mexico,” applicants including children were forced to await asylum hearings in Mexico, exposing many to danger. And courts were hostile and caseloads were rushed through.

Ramos put it bluntly: “Immigration law has always been hard — attorneys call it a dumpster fire. Under the Trump administration, it was like trying to put out a dumpster fire with a liter of gasoline.”

For children seeking asylum, the mental and emotional toll of these legal procedures is compounded by language barriers, social marginalization, and fear of deportation.

These fears can also deter their sponsors, the relatives or volunteers who take them in while their case proceeds — and who are often undocumented themselves. It can even discourage them from accessing medical care, educational services, and food banksdue to fears of arrest.

The three experts I spoke to all agreed our immigration system is outdated and inefficient — but said reform should make it more welcoming, not restrictive.

Until then, we’ll need to band together and advocate for local and state governments to pass legislation defending immigrant communities — and for President Biden to take steps to protect migrants before Trump takes office. You can also help by donating to organizations that support immigrants.

Asylum is a matter of life or death for these kids. If we truly care about the safety and dignity of children, our immigration policies must reflect that commitment.

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