One of the hottest issues awaiting the newly re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump when he takes office on Monday is the illegal immigration crisis, which affects millions. This crisis, a key factor in the election results, has grown exponentially according to official data. The number of illegal immigrants, which stood at 569,000 in 2014, exceeded 2.9 million in 2024. The past 10 years’ data is reflected in reports as follows: 331,000 in 2015, 408,000 in 2016, 415,000 in 2017, 521,000 in 2018, 977,000 in 2019, 458,000 in 2020, 1.7 million in 2021, 2.76 million in 2022, and 2.8 million in 2023.
The issue of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border from Mexico was heavily debated during Trump’s first presidency. Due to illegal crossings primarily occurring at the Mexico border, Trump initiated the border wall construction discussion but left office without fulfilling his promise. With the immigration crisis having increased 5–6 times compared to when Trump was first elected in 2016, his immigration policy in this term remains a subject of curiosity. Given the cost and practical challenges of Trump’s mass deportation promise, it seems unlikely that the immigration crisis will fade from the agenda anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans agreed on a bill before Trump takes office and sent it to the Senate. The bill mandates the swift deportation of individuals involved in crimes such as theft. Known as the Laken Riley Act, the legislation is named after student Laken Riley, who lost her life in February 2024 during a robbery by an illegal immigrant. The bill had previously passed the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate; it is now back on the agenda.
In 2016, when Trump was first elected, and in the following years, the annual number of Turkish citizens illegally crossing the border from Mexico averaged around 100. In recent years, this number has surged, reaching a total of 60,000 over the past four years. Currently, more than 15,000 Turkish citizens are held in U.S. border detention facilities.
With the strict policies Trump is expected to implement upon taking office directly affecting these immigrants, there has been a significant increase in legal applications recently. As their attorneys, we have been working intensively to process release petitions for our clients. At Bingol Law Firm, we provide full support to clients detained in camps during this process. We arrange bond hearings or apply for conditional release to ensure our clients are freed as quickly as possible. For clients facing deportation orders, we defend their rights in court, filing petitions to stay or reopen cases. Serving as a bridge between our detained clients—mostly Turkish citizens—and their families, we guide families in supporting their loved ones. Those in need can contact our New York office to benefit from our free consultation services.
