Executive Order 14165 frames the United States as having experienced "a large-scale invasion at an unprecedented level" over the previous four years, with millions of undocumented immigrants now residing in the country, including what the order characterizes as "potential terrorists, foreign spies, members of cartels, gangs, and violent transnational criminal organizations, and other hostile actors with malicious intent." The order declares that "a nation without borders is not a nation" and positions border security as one of the administration's highest priorities, marking a significant shift from the immigration policies of the previous administration. The order specifically criticizes what it calls "catch-and-release policies" that it claims undermine sovereignty and divert resources from intercepting contraband and fugitives.
The order establishes seven specific policy directives to secure U.S. borders: constructing physical barriers including a wall; deterring illegal entry; maximizing detention of apprehended individuals; promptly removing those in violation of federal law; pursuing criminal charges against undocumented immigrants and those who facilitate their presence; creating federal-state enforcement partnerships; and obtaining "complete operational control" of U.S. borders. It specifically mandates the resumption of the Migrant Protection Protocols (commonly known as the "Remain in Mexico" policy), terminates the use of the CBP One application for processing parole cases, and ends categorical parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Additionally, it requires DNA collection from detained individuals and directs officials to verify claimed family relationships among those apprehended.
Implementation responsibilities are primarily assigned to the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense, who are directed to deploy personnel and construct physical barriers along the southern border. The Attorney General is instructed to prioritize prosecutions related to human smuggling, trafficking, and border-related offenses. The order also establishes a 14-day deadline for the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, along with the Attorney General, to provide recommendations on additional measures to secure the southern border and protect against foreign threats. While the order declares broad and immediate changes to immigration enforcement, it includes standard language acknowledging that implementation is subject to applicable law and available appropriations, potentially limiting its immediate practical impact depending on congressional funding and legal challenges.