This EO identifies various actions on certain immigration programs to address securing the U.S. southern border. Many of the announced policies were implemented under the prior Trump administration, including the construction of walls and barriers and the maximal use of resources to prevent unauthorized entries, detain migrants, execute removals, and prosecute those who violate immigration law. This EO also directs DHS to end humanitarian parole programs, including the “Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.”

The purpose of this EO is to realign the foreign policy of the United States to “champion core American interests and always put America and American citizens first.” This EO resonates with the “Buy American, Hire American” (BAHA, Executive Order 13788 of April 18, 2017) policies of the prior Trump administration. BAHA policies had resulted in increased scrutiny of employment-based visas.