Prepare for anticipated immigration, employment changes in Trump’s second term

President-Elect Donald Trump has begun assembling the administration for his second term, signaling potential shifts in policies that could significantly affect employment law and immigration.

Looking back to see what’s coming

While detailed plans for immigration reform are expected in the coming weeks, key appointments already offer a preview of the priorities likely to dominate the new administration. Notable figures include Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy; Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security, overseeing agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and Tom Homan, the former acting director of ICE, appointed as the new “Border Czar.”

These selections suggest a focus on stricter border controls, increased deportations, and expanded administrative hurdles for immigration processes.

To understand what may lie ahead, examining initiatives from the president-elect’s first term can provide valuable insight. ICE, a critical agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), operates through two main components: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which addresses cross-border criminal activities and worksite enforcement activity, and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which focuses on deportations.