Image via UC Davis
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With the new policies enacted by the Trump administration, immigration debates have been at the forefront of American politics. In current media, videos of people being dragged from their homes have flooded the algorithm, causing a national uproar.
The images that have been shown divide the American people in opinion. However, what is being overlooked is the disproportionate effects that the restrictive immigration policies have had on women.
Debates seem to surround economic and security concerns, but the personal, physical, and mental impact that these laws are having on groups of women also needs to be highlighted. As it stands, the United States’ immigration system fails to acknowledge the gender-specific vulnerabilities that women are going through. The immigration crackdown disproportionately exposes them to exploitation, violence, and legal barriers, which may be the exact reasons why they left their home countries in the first place.
Domestic violence, femicide, or economic pressures are the main reasons why women from Mexico need to immigrate, and why many feel the need to do it illegally. However, the U.S. legal framework doesn’t recognize that issues like the rise of gender-based violence have made immigration a vital necessity for many women. There are policies such as Title 42, which was implemented by President Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic, to deport asylum seekers rapidly. This has primarily impacted women who seek asylum in the United States by forcing them to remain in Mexico.
While the U.S. government claims that these policies deter illegal immigration because of safety concerns, they are trapping women in cycles of exploitation. There is a failure in this administration to recognize gender-based violence as a valid asylum claim, and the increasing militarization of the border—as well as the punitive use of detention centers—has intensified these risks. Specifically, women suddenly become exposed to a higher risk of human trafficking, sexual violence, and cartel violence.
The current administration announced that it will reimplement a significant policy from Trump’s previous term called “Migrant Protection Protocols,” informally referred to as “Remain in Mexico.” This requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their asylum application is processed in the States. It was reported that there are over 1,500 examples of violent crimes against immigrants subjected to this policy reported by human rights monitors.
Additionally, Trump has signed executive orders that aim to cut off federal benefits for undocumented immigrants, which renders these groups even more vulnerable. Cities that were considered havens for some are now being pressured by local governments to comply with the administration, ultimately setting women up for exploitation and abuse.
One of the most crucial setbacks occurred in 2018, when Attorney General Jeff Sessions ruled that domestic violence is no longer a valid reason to seek asylum. This left many women unprotected and vulnerable to unknown, dangerous fates.
The U.S. immigration system under President Donald Trump must be reformed to protect women fleeing violence from what they experience at the border. Policies that have been implemented since January 20 have been counterproductive and inhumane, ignoring the gendered nature of migration while leaving women with no place to find safe surroundings. If the U.S. was willing to acknowledge the gender-based violence crisis in Mexico, it could start to reconsider the situations in which women are being left behind and understand that they are seeking refuge because of life-threatening situations. The “Remain in Mexico” program and the elimination of federal benefits for undocumented immigrants need to be reevaluated so there can be necessary consideration for situations such as these. The United States should allow stronger protections for those escaping gender-based violence, permit asylum, and create a legal pathway for women who need to enter the country for their own safety.
By not considering individual cases and erasing special considerations for the cause of immigration, many are now becoming victims of systemic abuse. Policies prioritizing border security over human rights don’t indicate that the country will be safer; it means more people will be vulnerable. This is because such actions drive migrants into dangerous situations that increase their reliance on human smugglers and expose them to significant risks.
Still, many support Trump’s immigration policies, arguing that stricter border control will curb illegal immigration and protect American citizens. However, this perspective fails to acknowledge the realities that are driving migration in the first place. Women all over the world flee abuse, trafficking, and cartel violence. The journey isn’t easy, but they choose it over remaining in their living conditions. Furthermore, concerns over increased crime from immigration are misguided, as statistical evidence shows that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than any U.S.-born citizen.
The expanded use of mass deportation raids, particularly in sanctuary cities, is especially worrying because such a large-scale operation is different from any deportation measures seen in the past. Families are being separated, and people are being deported without due process. And, even despite credible claims of life risk, many women are being forced to navigate deportation without being allowed proper legal representation.
An alternative solution is proposed by the International Organization for Migration, however. It states, “Countries should promote stability, education, and employment opportunities and reduce the drivers of forced migration, including promoting resilience, thereby enabling individuals to choose between staying or migrating.”
Policies that address the root causes of migration would provide protections to those who need it most, while still filtering who comes into the country. Restoring asylum protections for survivors of gender-based violence is crucial, but the dismantling of USAID by Trump ruins these efforts. This is because it shuts down programs that help with the very issues that cause the majority of immigrants to leave their countries in the first place. Now, with no foreign support, women in countries where USAID is needed the most will be at an even greater risk—with fewer realistic options for asylum.
The new administration has only just begun, and the reinstatement and creation of new aggressive deportation measures, different border security, and a much less comprehensive approach to deportation are already underway. Trump is reinstating dangerous policies that the Biden administration had removed because of their aggressive approach and lack of consideration for anyone who may be a victim. Even worse, policymakers are now following suit. If their policies are signed into law, they will deter any non-citizen from reporting gender-based violence against them because they will feel at risk due to their immigration status.
The result is an incredibly hostile environment for anyone who wants to seek asylum, and there are no signs that the administration will soften its aggressiveness anytime soon. The escalation of Trump’s immigration policies in his second term presents an urgent crisis, especially for women. To move forward, it is imperative that policymakers, advocacy groups, and international human rights organizations push back against these decisions and advocate for women. Immigration also needs an approach that is gendered, because there are gender-specific matters that cannot be effectively handled with current strategies. The United States needs to reinstate comprehensive protections for women seeking asylum and ensure that the immigration system doesn’t remain a tool of systemic gender violence.
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This article was edited by Katherine Brennan and Siya Patel.
Ava Bedoya 
Julia Baechli 
Suzana Paljusevic