Immigration has been one of the most divisive issues in the United States this year. Since early 2025, President Trump has rolled out a tough new enforcement plan, featuring nationwide raids, suspended asylum claims, and direct deportations to El Salvador. The result? A wave of fear, legal battles, and shifting migration routes across the Americas. 🌎
Across major cities—from New York to Los Angeles—ICE agents have carried out unannounced raids, targeting workplaces and community centers. Families report being torn apart overnight, while advocates warn that trust in local services is crumbling. “People are too scared to seek help,” says a community leader in Houston. 😟
At the same time, US authorities have paused new asylum applications, creating a backlog of tens of thousands of cases. This suspension has pushed migrants to reroute their journeys: many now head for Mexico’s northern border, while others attempt the treacherous passage through Central America and Mexico to Canada’s southern frontier. 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Perhaps most controversially, the US government began deporting migrants straight to El Salvador—a country still recovering from violence and economic hardship. El Salvador’s government has protested, calling the flights “inhumane.” Human rights groups argue that this approach violates international norms and endangers vulnerable people. ✈️🏠
The crackdown has sparked a wave of lawsuits. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, are challenging the suspension of asylum and the legality of the raids in federal courts. Judges have issued temporary injunctions, but the administration is appealing, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal showdown. ⚖️
So what does the road ahead look like? With midterm elections approaching, immigration is likely to remain a hot topic. For migrants, the journey has never been more perilous—and the map is constantly changing. Stay tuned as we track every twist and turn in this unfolding story. 🔍
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
