What new policies has the U.S. government introduced to address immigration challenges?

There isn’t one single new policy addressing U.S. immigration challenges. Federal policy has shifted between expanding lawful pathways and tightening border enforcement, and some measures have faced court challenges or changes in implementation.

Among the most visible federal changes in 2024–25:

• June 2024 asylum restrictions: The Biden administration limited access to asylum for many people crossing the southern border unlawfully when border encounters reached a set threshold. The measure also aimed to speed up removals, with exceptions for certain people and circumstances.
• Changes to CBP One: The app had been used to schedule appointments at ports of entry. In January 2025, the Trump administration ended the appointment function, disrupting that route for people seeking to present themselves at the border.
• Expanded enforcement: The Trump administration declared a national emergency at the southern border and pursued broader detention and removal measures. It also sought to restart the “Remain in Mexico” policy, under which some asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their U.S. cases proceed.
• The Laken Riley Act: Enacted in January 2025, this law expands mandatory detention rules for certain noncitizens arrested for or charged with specified offenses, including some theft-related crimes.

These measures reflect a stronger emphasis on enforcement than the earlier use of appointment-based entry and humanitarian parole programs. Their scope and practical effects can change through regulations, court rulings, and later administration decisions, so the details depend on when and where someone is seeking information.