Trump Executive Order and DHS Guidance on Interior Enforcement: A Brief Review

An executive order signed by President Trump on January 25, 2017 makes sweeping changes to immigration enforcement in the interior of the United States, significantly broadening the categories of unauthorized immigrants who are priorities for removal, reviving the controversial Secure Communities program, and reinvigorating a federal-local partnership known as 287(g) under which state and local law enforcement agencies can sign agreements and enforce certain aspects of federal immigration law.

The "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States" executive order also outlines the administration's intent to limit funding for so-called sanctuary cities and take on countries that refuse to accept return of their nationals ordered deported from the United States, as well as seek funding to add 10,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

This brief, presented in an easy-to-reference side-by-side chart, outlines the key provisions in the executive order and accompanying Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance. It compares the executive order and DHS guidance to current and prior policy and practice, offering context where relevant.