US Immigration Crackdown Targets 2.2 Million People Under Trump’s Second Term

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Targets 2.2 Million People

The Trump administration has taken steps to revoke or terminate the immigration status of approximately 2.2 million people since January 2025, according to figures shared by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The scale of these actions highlights the administration’s expanded immigration enforcement campaign, which has affected temporary immigration programmes, work authorisations and visa holders. However, not everyone included in the figure has definitively lost their legal status, as several termination efforts remain subject to court challenges.

How Has the US Immigration Crackdown Affected 2.2 Million People?

According to DHS figures reported by The Daily Wire, the administration's actions have affected approximately 2.2 million people during President Donald Trump's second term. This is nearly seven times the number of comparable actions taken during the final two years of the Biden administration.

The enforcement campaign involves multiple federal agencies, including US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the State Department.

The measures include:

• Temporary Protected Status (TPS): USCIS has initiated efforts to terminate TPS for more than one million foreign nationals from 13 countries. Some of these actions remain on hold because of ongoing litigation.
• Humanitarian parole programmes: The administration ended programmes that had allowed approximately 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to travel to the US with prior authorisation.
• Work authorisation: The government has ended automatic extensions of certain employment authorisation documents, affecting some immigrants waiting for renewed work permits.
• Removal proceedings: Some foreign nationals have received notices to appear in immigration court, placing them in deportation proceedings.

What Is Happening to US Visas and Deportations?

The enforcement campaign extends beyond temporary immigration programmes.

The State Department announced earlier in October that the administration had revoked more than 300,000 visas since Trump returned to office. These included approximately 4,000 visas associated with birth tourism and 6,000 held by foreign students who had committed crimes or had ties to terrorism, according to the report.

Separately, ICE deported approximately 421,182 people between October 2025 and August 24, 2026, based on figures from an agency report cited by The Daily Wire.

These visa revocations and deportations are separate enforcement figures and should not be interpreted as additional people within the 2.2 million status-related actions. 

Who Could Be Affected by the Immigration Crackdown?

The measures could affect several categories of foreign nationals, depending on their immigration status and individual circumstances.

Key groups include:

• TPS beneficiaries: Nationals of countries whose temporary protected status is being terminated or challenged.
• Humanitarian parole recipients: Individuals who entered the US through programmes that have since been discontinued.
• International students and visa holders: Individuals facing visa revocation or increased immigration screening.
• Foreign workers: Certain workers whose employment authorisation renewals or immigration status may be affected by policy changes.

Indian professionals on H-1B visas and employment-based Green Card applicants should distinguish these enforcement actions from changes to their specific visa categories. The reported 2.2 million figure does not mean that all H-1B holders or Green Card applicants are affected.

What Does This Mean for Immigrants?

The developments highlight increased scrutiny of immigration status, work authorisation and compliance with visa conditions.

Foreign nationals in the US should monitor official immigration notices, maintain valid documentation and respond to requests or proceedings within the applicable deadlines. Those with pending applications or temporary immigration protections should also understand whether separate policy changes or court decisions affect their cases.

Although the administration has taken action against approximately 2.2 million people, the final number of individuals who have actually lost their immigration status remains unclear. Ongoing litigation could also change the outcome of some termination efforts.

For immigrants planning to work, study or pursue US permanent residency, understanding the specific rules governing their immigration category remains essential.

Stay connected with Smart Immigrant for more updates on US immigration and policy changes.