The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it has revoked or terminated the immigration status of approximately 2.2 million people since President Donald Trump took office, a move officials say is aimed at restoring integrity to the U.S. immigration system. The enforcement actions, detailed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), include the end of several parole programs and reforms to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), as well as a large-scale review of work permits and other legal statuses.

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The scale and speed of these revocations have intensified the ongoing debate over how the U.S. manages border security and legal immigration, with critics and supporters divided over the impact on migrants and the broader system.

The announcement comes as immigration enforcement remains a central issue in U.S. politics. Previous administrations have faced criticism over both the expansion and rollback of protections for people in the country illegally, and recent court rulings have challenged the legality of some Trump-era actions.

Mass Status Revocations and Enforcement Actions

According to DHS and USCIS, the agency has taken what it calls “unprecedented” enforcement actions, including the termination of categorical parole programs used by previous administrations to grant temporary legal status to large groups of migrants. The Trump administration also reformed TPS, which DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said had been “abused by successive American governments to keep foreign populations...in the country in perpetuity,” making the program “once again truly temporary.”

"Those who abuse or flagrantly disregard our immigration system are now on notice that these violations of law will not be tolerated or overlooked. Securing our border was only the beginning. We are restoring integrity to the entire immigration system and putting the safety of our American citizens first."

— Markwayne Mullin, DHS Secretary

USCIS reported additional enforcement steps, such as denying applications to extend or change nonimmigrant status without legal basis, issuing Notices to Appear to initiate removal proceedings, and ending the automatic extension of employment authorization documents. The agency emphasized that all work authorization renewals now require full screening and vetting. DHS also reported a recent operation in Texas that resulted in the apprehension of 4,170 people in the country illegally over an 11-day period, all of whom are slated for removal.

A significant portion of the enforcement actions targeted nearly 900,000 migrants who had entered the U.S. under the Biden administration’s CBP One parole program, which allowed individuals to schedule interviews at ports of entry and await asylum hearings inside the country. The Trump administration revoked their status after discontinuing the program, notifying affected migrants by email and urging them to leave the U.S.

However, a federal judge in Boston ruled that the administration’s move to strip status from these migrants violated the law, ordering that their status be reinstated. The CBP One app has since been replaced by a new version, CBP Home, which is now used to facilitate returns to migrants’ home countries.

Broader Policy Shifts and Reactions

The Trump administration’s approach also included a sharp reduction in legal immigration, with the State Department issuing about 52,000 visas per month prior to Trump’s second term, according to DHS. Critics of the administration’s policies argue that agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) have failed to protect vulnerable populations, with claims that nearly half a million unaccompanied minors went missing under the Biden administration’s oversight.

Supporters of the enforcement actions, including DHS officials, argue that the measures are necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect American citizens. Opponents, including federal judges, have challenged the legality and humanitarian impact of the mass revocations, particularly for those who entered through programs like CBP One. DHS and USCIS have not publicly addressed the court ruling in Boston or the reinstatement of status for affected migrants.

The legal and policy disputes over these enforcement actions are ongoing, with further court challenges and administrative reviews expected in the coming months.