Trump's Immigration Plan Aims to Deny Asylum for Undocumented Entrants to the U.S.

The latest immigration strategy from Donald Trump's administration could strip protection from hundreds of thousands of migrants, including Cubans, who entered the United States illegally and sought asylum after crossing the border. CNN's exclusive report reveals that the plan intends to dismiss asylum claims of those present in the U.S. without legal documentation, making them immediately subject to deportation.

This approach would effectively turn the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) into an operational arm of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as pointed out by civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). "The government is transforming the agency that provides immigration benefits into an enforcement branch of ICE," warned a lawyer from the organization.

Despite Trump's campaign promise to focus on deporting individuals with criminal backgrounds, the operational reality tells a different story. The White House set a target of 3,000 arrests per day, a figure that is unattainable if limited to those with criminal records, according to Priscilla Alvarez, CNN's immigration correspondent, in discussion with fellow journalist Zachary B. Wolf.

Cubans, Venezuelans, and Other Nationalities Lose Protections

This plan dismantles humanitarian safeguards such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and parole, directly impacting migrant communities like Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans. Many who arrived legally with temporary documents have now become undocumented overnight, unable to renew their work or residency permits. "The number of undocumented individuals is increasing because protections are being systematically removed," warned Alvarez.

Additionally, a recent Supreme Court ruling allows the Trump administration to deport migrants to third countries, such as South Sudan, without clear due process guarantees. This could lead to sending Cubans or Venezuelans to nations with which the U.S. lacks direct repatriation agreements. Questions remain about how much notice these individuals receive and whether they can challenge their deportation as the infrastructure for detaining and expelling more migrants solidifies.

"Alligator Alcatraz": The New Symbol of Mass Detention

Among the most concerning projects is the provisional detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” located in the Florida Everglades. Designed to hold 5,000 people, it is planned to be surrounded by alligators and snakes in a swamp, reducing the need for physical security. "ICE has a limited number of detention beds and funds for an average of 41,500 beds, but it collaborates with local jails and community partners for detention. Currently, over 58,000 people are in ICE custody, exceeding its capacity," stated Alvarez.

The Florida complex, which is set to be constructed with emergency funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is just one piece of the puzzle. The administration is also negotiating with states and private companies to establish new immigration prisons due to the collapse of existing facilities, according to the correspondent.

With more than 58,000 people currently detained and a collapsed immigration system, Trump and his team, led by the architect of immigration policies, Stephen Miller, have been quietly crafting this new legal and operational framework for months. The big question is whether they will secure the multi-billion dollar budget package being debated in Congress. If obtained, experts warn, they could fully execute this machinery that threatens to blur the line between humanitarian protection and immigration punishment.