Deportations, Private Contracts, and the End of Protections: The Immigration Landscape Taking Shape in 2026

Immigration Landscape in 2026

Key Immigration Changes

Protections at Risk

The year 2026 will mark a turning point in US immigration policy under the administration of President Donald Trump.

For the first time since his return to the White House, the president will have full control over the federal budget allocated to immigration.

This scenario will make it possible to accelerate his plan for mass deportations through the agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

At the same time, profound changes are being prepared in immigration procedures, humanitarian protections, and access to social benefits, redefining US immigration policy in 2026.

ICE Boosts Deportations with More Agents and Funding

US immigration policy in 2026 – Photo: Shutterstock

ICE could operate in 2026 with more than 10,000 new federal agents currently in the hiring process.

The goal is to expand raids and operations in cities with high concentrations of undocumented immigrants.

You may also like: ICE Launches Aggressive Recruitment Campaign for Deportations

The strategy is supported by the so-called “Big and Beautiful Bill” (BBB), which allocates more than $170 billion to immigration enforcement.

That budget includes the expansion of detention centers with 80,000 additional beds.

Private Companies and “Bounty Hunters” Amond US Immigration Policies

Recent reports indicate that the federal government has signed contracts with private companies to locate immigrants.

These firms would carry out tracking work in homes and workplaces, under contracts that could reach $280 million.

One of them is BI Incorporated, a subsidiary of GEO Group, a for-profit prison company.

The firm has previously collaborated with the government on monitoring programs using electronic ankle bracelets.

More Control, Less Protection

Photo: Shutterstock

Proposals to use private services are not new and had already been considered in previous months.

State lawmakers even attempted to promote “bounty hunter” programs, although without success.

Now, federal contracts directly expand the role of the private sector in immigration law enforcement.

Civil rights organizations warn that this approach increases the risk of abuses and errors under the US immigration policy in 2026.

More Restrictive Immigration Procedures

In parallel, the office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is preparing key changes to immigration processes.

One of the most significant is the new public charge rule to condition eligibility for Legal Permanent Residency.

This policy seeks to penalize the use of social assistance programs such as food stamps.

“The Trump administration and Congress are also making immigrants’ daily lives more difficult,” Galett acknowledged.

Work Visas and New Rules

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed changes to the allocation of H-1B work visas.

The system would move away from the lottery model and prioritize applicants’ profiles.

Authorities anticipate that more procedures could be modified throughout the year.

This adds uncertainty for thousands of foreign workers and employers affected by the US immigration policy in 2026.

End of TPS and Temporary Protections Also Shape the 2026 Immigration Landscape

In October, the Supreme Court of the United States authorized moving forward with the end of TPS for Venezuelans.

The measure is part of the effort to reduce the use of parole, or temporary relief from deportation.

According to the New York City Bar Association, there is a clear trend toward dismantling the immigration system.

Other protections could face the same fate in the coming months.

Birthright Citizenship Before the Court

The Supreme Court must decide before June on Trump’s order to block birthright citizenship.

The case Barbara v. Trump could set a historic precedent.

If the ruling favors the administration, about 255,000 children per year would not obtain citizenship.

The decision would impact millions of mixed-status families across the country, as reported by La Opinión and San Diego Tribune.