It has been 100 days since President Donald Trump began his second term, with immigration policy once again dominating the agenda. His administration’s stance has hardened, pledging to eradicate illegal immigration at its roots. Yet the way this crackdown is being executed raises serious concerns about whether it is truly effective—or fundamentally misdirected.
Legal Immigrants Bear the Brunt of Enforcement
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun requiring H-1B visa holders and employment-based green card applicants to submit biometric data and residential details. This is not mere paperwork; it appears to lay the groundwork for expanding deportation targets among long-term residents.
We are also seeing increasing cases where international students and green card holders are deported for minor legal infractions. This has fostered a climate of fear among lawful immigrants and raises a critical question: Is this crackdown focusing on the right targets?
Illegal Immigrant Crackdown Targets Easy Marks, Misses Real Threats
What’s especially troubling is that the Trump administration, in its drive to show quick results, is singling out legal immigrants—easy marks with clear status and contributions to society—while sidestepping the far more dangerous criminal networks. This approach directly undermines both the legitimacy and the credibility of the crackdown.
Immigration enforcement should prioritize protecting public safety and national sovereignty. To achieve that, the current focus must shift.
Illegal Immigrant Crackdown: LA’s Sanctuary City Challenge
Los Angeles, one of the most prominent sanctuary cities, exemplifies where urgent action is needed. The city has become a key hub for Latin American gangs and drug cartels, driving a surge in violent crime. Overburdened public services and growing public dissatisfaction reflect the strain caused by undocumented immigration.
Yet LA officials persist in opposing federal cooperation requests on illegal immigrant crackdowns. This refusal starkly conflicts with their obligation to protect residents’ safety.
Real Results Require Stronger, Smarter Enforcement
President Trump must acknowledge that legal maneuvering alone will not solve sanctuary city problems. With local police forces like the LAPD refusing to assist, agencies such as ICE must strengthen enforcement resources and develop forceful, targeted strategies that can produce tangible results.
Empty declarations won’t suffice. What’s urgently needed is a concentrated, no-nonsense approach that dismantles criminal networks.
Protect Legal Immigrants, Target Real Threats
The crackdown should focus enforcement on dismantling illegal immigrant networks and organized crime—not on generating fear among lawful immigrants. Misguided leniency not only distorts the immigration system but also squeezes out legal immigrants who follow the rules and work hard to build their lives here.
A clear, fair policy is the only way to win public trust and uphold the legitimacy of immigration enforcement.
The Polls Are Warning Signs
A recent AP-NORC poll showed that support for Trump’s immigration policies has dipped to 46%, down 3% from the previous month. This is no trivial fluctuation—it reflects rising public frustration with an enforcement strategy that seems unfocused and inconsistent.
If the administration truly wants results, it must confront the fundamental question: Who is this crackdown really targeting?
To Succeed, Enforcement Must Hit Its Mark
Trump’s immigration agenda will fail unless it zeroes in on real threats. Sanctuary cities need more than legal pressure; they need robust policing and a full-scale assault on criminal organizations. As long as the crackdown prioritizes headline numbers over genuine threats, it will fail to earn public trust or policy legitimacy. True success depends on hitting the real target.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
