Trump has widened scope of anti-immigrant policy in second term

The Trump administration has expanded its immigration crackdown well beyond the traditional departments of Homeland Security, State, and Justice, pulling in Treasury, Transportation, HUD, the SBA and the FCC to restrict noncitizens' access to federal benefits and programs. A proposed Treasury rule would limit tax credit refunds based on immigration status, while HUD has restricted housing programs and the SBA has banned noncitizens from small business loans.

An analyst at the Migration Policy Institute noted the novelty of involving agencies “that have never before been involved in immigration.” MPI found the administration took over 500 immigration-related actions in its first year alone, compared with 472 across all four years of Trump's first term.

A February 2025 executive order directed agencies to reverse any expansions of immigrant eligibility for benefits, prompting HHS, USDA, Education, Labor and the IRS to reinterpret a 1996 welfare law. A preliminary injunction currently blocks the new interpretation from taking effect. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the administration is “putting Americans first.”

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