Why Project 2025 is scaring Americans and its impact on immigration

There is an atmosphere of fear, mistrust and division in the US. After Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections, many fear that he might implement radical policies suggested in a 900-page playbook, Project 2025. It is the document’s origins and take on contentious issues, like immigration and abortion, why a section of Americans are scared. Though Trump has distanced himself from the handbook, the majority Republicans have in the House and Senate and the portrayal of the President-elect as a villain are giving people the jitters.
The 900-page document was put together by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank. The think-tank has advised several Republican presidents since Ronald Reagan. It advised Trump on policy issues in his first term, and was among the first to congratulate him after his victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump has continuously denied any support for ‘Project 2025’ after his opponents attacked him for supporting it. The Democrats have raised objections about the project due to its extreme stance on immigration and border control as well. But what does the Project 25 document really say?
Many in the US are now linking the project to Trump. But it is more to do with a right-leaning conservative think tank’s support for Trump than Trump agreeing to all aspects of the project.
“The entire conservative movement stands united behind him as he prepares to secure our wide-open border, restore the rule of law, put parents back in charge of their children’s education, restore America to its proper place as a leader in manufacturing, put families and children first, and dismantle the deep state,” Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation’s President, said in a statement after Trump won the elections.
Both Trump’s win and the project’s far-right policy have led to scepticism about immigration.
His opponents fear the implementation of the far-right project and his supporters reiterate that Trump has denied any connection to the project and how Trump is in disagreement with Project 2025, but he will still “dismantle the deep state forces”, which is part of his own agenda called ‘Agenda 47’.
Here is what ‘Project 2025’ says on important issues, including immigration.
It discusses criminalising pornography, speaks of doing away with Commerce and Education departments and rejects the idea of abortion as health care.
But one of the biggest fears about a Trump presidency and ‘Project 2025’ comes from what immigration in the US would look like.
“It really saddens me that people are still concerned about Project 2025. I think there is a lot of misinformation about the project now that Trump has been elected as President,” Kaizen Asiedu, a Trump supporter, wrote on X. He has created a video to burst the “myths” around Project 2025.
He also emphasised how these different policies ideated by the think tank has nothing to do with Donald Trump. He further clarifies that Trump already has his agenda which is called ‘Agenda 47’.
But the fear about the project has been widely spread through the election season.
Even in the Presidential debate, Harris brought up ‘Project 2025’ and Trump refuted any ties to it.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” he wrote on Truth Social. “I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.”
But the team which created the project was filled with Trump advisers, reported The New York Times.
The ‘Project 2025’ puts stringent controls on border control, that is, customs and immigration enforcement on multiple fronts. It focusses on closing pending immigration cases, reports Axios.
There is a further provision for taking into custody undocumented immigrants with any records of felonies, crime, previous removals or “any other crime that is considered a national security or public safety threat as defined under current laws”.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been asked to put a stop to its “current cosy deference” to educational institutions and work to reduce the number of visas issued to foreign students.
Another strict immigration control policy would be removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of immigrants. Many people from across the world live in the US through TPS.
The removal of the Temporary Protected Status designation would also affect 1.2 million people and is also a demand in Project 2025.
It also discusses a cut in local and state funding for legal assistance programs.
This would lead to people lacking legal guidance if state and local governments put restrictions on them, reports Vera.
The project also puts strict control on asylum seekers. It has also proposed expedited removal of people without a court hearing.
One of the most stringent provisions is arrest and detention of immigrants without a warrant. Even judges would have to enforce more strict immigration rules.
But Trump has neither accepted the project’s immigration measures nor other aspects of it. But his own ‘Agenda 47’ has strict measures against immigration.
In the agenda, there is a plan to crack down on gangs, human traffickers and the use of federal troops to restore law and order.
He will prohibit undocumented immigrants from using public benefits and even a travel ban on certain countries. Their kids will not get citizenship, and he will also suspend refugee entry into the US.
There are differences in Trump’s agenda and Project 2025. Though there might be some overlaps, like on immigration, but Trump has assured people he wouldn’t be implementing the far-right playbook. The project, which is more severe in its opinion on Department of Education, abortion, immigration and the economy, is scaring people because of the majority Trump has and the strong will he bring to the Oval Office.