U.S. Immigration: 'Largest-Ever' Plan May Strip Legal Status from 1.6 Million, Advocates Warn

Immigrant rights advocates in the United States are sounding the alarm over what they describe as an unprecedented effort to strip legal permissions from approximately 1.6 million people. According to these groups, the plan represents the largest-ever campaign targeting immigrants who initially attempted to migrate to the country through established legal means.

The Scale of the Allegation

The 1.6 million figure is a staggering number in the context of immigration enforcement, which has historically focused on undocumented border crossings. While the specific mechanisms for stripping permissions haven't been detailed, it could potentially involve revoking visas, work authorizations, or pending green card applications. Advocates argue that the sheer scale of the operation would require a massive expansion of bureaucratic and enforcement resources, signaling a significant policy shift.

A Paradigm Shift: Targeting Legal Pathways

What makes this alleged plan particularly notable is its focus. For decades, the central debate in U.S. immigration policy has been about controlling illegal immigration. Targeting individuals who have entered or attempted to enter the legal system marks a fundamental change. It suggests that even those who follow the prescribed rules and procedures could have their status retroactively jeopardized. This could have a chilling effect, discouraging future applicants and sowing distrust in the stability and fairness of the American immigration framework.

This approach aligns with some of the more hardline immigration proposals discussed during the administration of former President Donald Trump, which sought to reduce overall levels of legal immigration in addition to cracking down on unauthorized entry. If enacted, such a policy would likely face immediate and widespread legal challenges from civil liberties and immigrant rights organizations.