Trump Administration Overhauls Immigration Courts and Subsidized Housing Rules

The administration of Donald Trump has implemented a systemic overhaul of the United States immigration court system to accelerate deportations and reduce asylum approvals. By replacing judges described as activist with law enforcement-focused professionals and pressuring the remaining judiciary to deny asylum requests, the administration reduced the asylum grant rate to seven percent in February 2026, down from over 50 percent under the previous administration.

These judicial changes contributed to a 57 percent increase in removal orders during fiscal year 2025, totaling nearly 500,000. The White House reports that more than three million illegal migrants have left the United States during this second term, noting that no illegal migrants have been released at the border for 11 consecutive months.

The strategy has shifted from high-profile mass deportations to systemic operations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to deport nearly 1,000 people daily. Simultaneously, the administration is targeting social services; HUD Secretary Scott Turner proposed a rule prohibiting mixed-status families—those containing both U.S. citizens and undocumented migrants—from accessing public and subsidized housing, including Section 8. Additionally, advisor Stephen Miller has challenged Texas lawmakers over state funding for the education of undocumented children.