By Okon Ekpenyong

Trump 2.0 has arrived. There’s no need to lose sleep or let your blood pressure rise over this. The 2020 election did not go his way, and he is out to pick a bone with anyone who stands in his way. If you are a refugee or an immigrant living in this country, please ensure your paperwork is in order. If not, you should consult with an immigration lawyer as soon as possible.

On his inauguration day, January 20, Brother Trump went straight to work with the intent to do what he said he would do by signing a series of executive orders, including revoking 71 of them from Former President Joe Biden’s Administration. Trump 2.0 is officially here!

In his inaugural address, Trump declared that “America’s decline is over” and vowed to implement sweeping executive orders to expand America’s territory, curb immigration issues, boost fossil fuel production, and roll back environmental regulations. These policies could have a significant impact on our lives and the future of our country.

News organizations everywhere must have missed President Trump and are already reporting everything the Administration is doing and will do. And so far, they have not missed a beat. That’s right, the man who says, “When he makes promises, he is the keep it type of a guy.” That is why he’s on a mission to become the boldest, most fearless, intriguing, and no-nonsense US President there’s ever been”, he says.

It’s important to remember that Brother Trump is an entertainer and knows how to put on a show. He might be doing one thing to distract you, while in reality, he could be in the kitchen—or, more often, having someone else cooking up something hot. What a mysterious man, or is he so predictable these days? His unpredictability keeps us on our toes and makes us eager to stay informed.

So, if you’ve put everything together by now or finally figured out what he is all about, breathe because it is not even 72 hours yet. However, there is no surprise here because reviewing and revoking executive orders from the previous Administration is standard practice. This ensures alignment with the current President’s campaign promises and agenda. Staying informed about these practices is essential to understanding our political landscape.

However, many wonder if Brother Trump’s approach is more revenge for the 2020 election collapse rather than faithfully executing the duties of the office of the President. And when top billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg are backing him, the comeback kid is not the one to mess with.

So far, the US has declared a national emergency on Southern Borders while proclaiming drug cartel criminals to be terrorist groups. Additionally, as he was signing the executive orders, the one that is not sitting well with at least 22 State Attorneys general, including the Civil Rights Organization, is proposing to end birthright citizenship for children born in the country to parents regardless of their immigration status. If it were not for birthright citizenship, Senators Bernie Moreno and Ted Cruz’s children would not have become citizens automatically because their senator fathers were not born in the U.S.

Many people believe that Trump is using the pause on birthright citizenship as a strategy to advance his mass deportation plans. This approach aims to slow down illegal crossings and could lead to a travel ban on countries experiencing an influx of migrants, such as Haiti, Mexico, and others.

A significant issue currently is the debate over TikTok. During his first term, President Trump strongly advocated for banning the app, believing that young people, who make up a significant portion of its users, tend to lean liberal. Many lawmakers have also stated that the platform can create serious cybersecurity issues by enabling consumer data theft for foreign criminal enterprises. For Trump, he felt this demographic’s political beliefs did not align with his interests. However, now that younger people show more support for him, he wants to protect it. This shift in stance reflects the complex interplay between politics and technology in the modern era.

Under the Biden administration, a bill was signed into law that halted the platform’s operations until a U.S.-based organization could acquire it. This was done to ensure that user-sensitive data would not fall into the hands of foreign organized groups. Recently, the CEO of TikTok, who attended the inauguration, expressed gratitude to President Trump for helping restore services after the platform experienced a brief outage. Trump recently stated that he wouldn’t mind if Elon Musk bought TikTok. Trump 2.0 is here. Can you see where I am going with this?

Trump prioritizing the pardoning of at least 1,500 individuals who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was significant. This decision stemmed from the fact that they were his supporters, who were unhappy with what they perceived as the collapse of the 2020 election results. So, once again, if you are a loyal supporter of Trump, he has got you, but does he?
Per the Administration’s explanation, to gain control of the border, such executive orders are necessary to help take a deeper look at what causes the border issues. He then wishes to put his policies in place to eradicate illegal crossing.

Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, who led the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday, conveyed a different message to the 47th President. She urged him to show mercy, particularly towards immigrants who are fleeing war-like situations in their home countries. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared right now,” the Bishop said, directing her words towards the President.

Bishop Budde said that most immigrants do pay taxes, even when they are not citizens or may not have proper documentation. Here, these immigrants contribute to society and are often good members of their communities. They do not participate in criminal activities and are faithful members of our churches, mosques, and synagogues. The sermon did not sit well with either President Trump or Vance.

He has also pledged to deport “millions and millions of criminal aliens” and plans to deploy troops to the U.S.-Mexico border while reinstating his “Remain in Mexico” policy. These policies could have severe consequences for the immigrants affected, potentially violating their human rights. It’s important to note that some of the immigrants who are currently waiting for their trials are not guilty of any crime. Additionally, those who receive a guilty verdict may not have had the benefit of adequate legal representation to fight their case effectively.

Trump’s intention to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is loud and clear, which would allow for the deportation of specific foreigners during times of conflict. Federal or lower courts can challenge this ruling or other executive orders, as established by the Constitution’s system of checks and balances. This concept is outlined in Article III, which grants the highest court the power to interpret laws and ensure they align with the Constitution.

To stay current on US immigration policies, it’s crucial to regularly check official government websites, news outlets, and fact-checking organizations. Immigration policies can change significantly with each new Administration.

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