Trump’s Immigration Policy Echoes 1920s Crackdown, but This Time Congress Isn’t Involved

President Trump announced executive actions in 2025 restricting immigration through executive authority rather than legislation. Historians including those from major universities noted parallels to immigration restrictions enacted in the 1920s, when Congress passed laws including the National Origins Act of 1924. Trump's approach differs in that the restrictions were implemented through executive orders signed by the president rather than through congressional legislation. The executive actions addressed visa processing, border enforcement, and work authorization programs. Legal challenges to the executive orders were filed in federal court within weeks of their announcement.

Next story