How Trump’s Mass Deportation Promises Could Lead to Surging Undocumented Immigration: Unpacking the Paradox

Florndjie Camey, 31, left a troubled life in Haiti for a chance at something better in Miami. She secured a cashier job after coming to the United States legally, backed by a family sponsor. However, everything changed when former President Donald Trump declared that many like her were no longer legally allowed to stay.

Trump aimed to be known for significant deportations, claiming that a program allowing Camey and many others to live and work in the U.S. was illegal. His administration’s move to revoke legal status for over 1 million individuals forced them back into the shadows, becoming targets for deportation.

Angela Kelley, an immigration adviser, noted that Trump’s policies create a situation where people transition from documented to undocumented status, paving the way for mass deportations. “They’re not criminals; they were here legally,” she explained. The government’s actions drastically increased the number of people eligible for deportation, making it easier to remove them from the country.

On May 30, the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration, allowing it to take away legal protections from over 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed those affected to “self-deport” immediately. Ken Jozef, a director at the Haitian Bridge Alliance, emphasized that these individuals had trusted the U.S. and gone through extensive vetting to live and work here. “Now they’re having the rug pulled out from under them,” Jozef stated.

The Trump administration argues that programs aimed at helping these immigrants didn’t improve border security and hindered law enforcement. They claimed these programs invited fraud and competition for American jobs. Critics argue that while the focus has shifted to deportations, the administration has failed to address the shortage of legal pathways for workers, which is increasingly urgent in a country experiencing declining birth rates.

Stuart Anderson, a policy expert, remarked that there has been zero effort to create more legal pathways for immigrants. Instead, barriers have increased, making it tougher for many to gain visas or protections. In Haiti, where Camey had been working to support youth and pursue a degree in psychology, the situation was dire. “I felt like I was just existing. There’s no future,” Camey said.

After being sponsored by her aunt, Camey saw America as her second chance. “I wanted to work hard and build a life for my daughter,” she shared. Now, the uncertainty looms.

The parole program she relied on is temporary. With Trump’s administration attempting to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for many, the risks of becoming undocumented grow. This impacts not just immigrants—over 900,000 individuals using the U.S. government’s CBP One app face deportation this year.

A report from the Migration Policy Institute suggests that ending birthright citizenship could increase the unauthorized population by millions over the next few decades. Every year, roughly 255,000 children born to unauthorized parents in the U.S. could miss out on citizenship, creating a legacy of uncertainty.

Despite legal battles regarding these policies, Trump’s goal remains clear: to remove those he believes shouldn’t be here. “We want to encourage people to leave,” a policy researcher stated.

Camey and others facing deportation options are now looking to countries like Canada, Chile, and Mexico as safer havens. Group sponsorship programs have arisen, with local advocates stepping in to help families navigate this bleak landscape.

As Camey contemplates her future—”I won’t go back to Haiti”—her desire for a better life remains fiercely alive. For her and many others caught in this turbulent migration debate, it’s about survival and hope against the odds.



Source link