The Impact of Trump-Era U.S. Migration Policy on Humanitarian Protections, Global Inequalities, and International Legal Frameworks
Authors: Christabel Okoroafor, Anushka Pandey, Natalie Joseph, Ceren Kale, AksharaShukla, Chibudom Ironuru ABSTRACT Migration is a fundamental aspect of human history, driven by the search for survival, security, andopportunity. From the earliest movements out of East Africa to contemporary global flows, migrationpatterns have always reflected deeply embedded political, economic, and environmental dynamics. Inthe modern era, migration is shaped by “push” factors such as conflict, poverty, and climate change, and“pull” factors like economic opportunity and safety. However, these movements are not merely personalchoices, they symbolize persistent global inequalities, particularly between the Global North andSouth. Statistics reveal that while 37% of migration occurs between Southern nations, corridors such asMexico–U.S. and Africa–Europe underscore the influence of geopolitical alliances, policy disparities,and entrenched systemic inequalities.The study of U.S. migration policy offers a powerful lens into these broader forces. Recent years havewitnessed profound shifts, especially under the Trump administration, which implemented sweepingrollbacks on humanitarian protections. Policies like the “Zero-Tolerance” family separation initiative,the “Remain in Mexico” protocol, travel bans targeting Muslim-majority and African countries, andnarrowing of asylum eligibility marked a stark departure from prior commitments to refugee and asylumrights. These measures resulted in widespread family separation, increased deportations, and fueled anatmosphere of fear and exclusion for migrants and asylum seekers.Moreover, the Trump administration’s approach has had long-term reverberations, weakeninginstitutional capacity, fueling backlogs, and politicizing immigration agencies. Even as the Bidenadministration has attempted to reverse some of these policies, structural barriers and the legacy ofenforcement-first strategies persist, complicating efforts toward humane migration justice and reform.The implications extend beyond the U.S., altering global attitudes and contributing to a backlash againstmultilateral cooperation on migration issues. As migration remains a key site of contestation andnegotiation, achieving genuine change will require not just policy reversal but structural transformationto address the deep-rooted inequalities, uphold human rights, and rebuild trust in migration governance.