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Politics
Ernesto Castañeda, Professor of Latin American and Latino studies, American University

What is a migrant? What is ICE? 10 terms to help you understand the debate over immigration

Migrants are apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after crossing into Ruby, Ariz., in June 2024. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

President Donald Trump aims to upend the immigration system in the United States in his first few days in office. On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump signed various executive orders that temporarily prevent refugees from coming to the U.S. and block immigrants from applying for asylum at a U.S. border, among other measures.

Another executive order calls on federal agencies to not issue passports, birth certificates or Social Security numbers to babies born in the U.S. to parents not in the country legally, or with temporary permission. Eighteen states sued on Jan. 21 to block this executive order that challenges birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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