Trump briefs Republican representatives on developing U.S. migration plan
From Kushner's Merit Plan to Mass Deportation: The GOP's 7‑Year Immigration Pivot (2019‑2026)
In May 2019, President Donald Trump convened a group of Republican representatives at the White House to brief them on a new immigration proposal. The plan, developed over several months under the direction of White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, aimed to shift the U.S. legal immigration system toward a "merit‑based" model—favoring highly skilled, English‑speaking applicants over those with family ties to Americans. A senior administration official told reporters that the overall effect would leave the number of legal immigrants allowed into the U.S. at "about the equivalent" while dramatically altering the composition.[reference:0] Senator Lindsey Graham, whose Judiciary Committee would shepherd any such legislation, described it as "a legitimacy based migration suggestion that manages increments in work visas and diminishes family visas."[reference:1]
Seven years later, that carefully crafted merit‑based plan is a distant memory. Trump's immigration agenda has been radically redefined by the forces that shaped his 2024 campaign and second term: a border "invasion," the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, and a legislative landscape where bipartisan reform bills like the DIGNITY Act and the SMART Act now compete for attention. This is the story of how the GOP's immigration vision evolved from a wonkish pivot to high‑skilled labor into a full‑throated cultural war on the border—and where the debate stands in 2026.
📋 The 2019 Starting Point: Kushner's Merit‑Based Vision
The original 2019 article on this site captured the details of the White House briefing. The plan was designed to "let all the more exceedingly talented specialists into the US and less low‑gifted laborers."[reference:2] It drew inspiration from the points‑based systems used by Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Australia, and was intended to give Republicans a unified immigration message ahead of the 2020 election.[reference:3]
Trump formally unveiled the proposal in the White House Rose Garden days later. The centerpiece was a dramatic reallocation of green cards: from roughly 12% based on employment and skills to 57% under the new system.[reference:4] A new "Build America Visa" would be created for qualified migrants, who could qualify via a point system based on "extraordinary talent," "professional and specialized vocation," or being an "exceptional student."[reference:5] The plan also included proposals to beef up border security and curb the rise in Central American migrants seeking asylum.[reference:6]
But the plan was dead on arrival in Congress. Democrats rejected it outright, and even some Republicans were skeptical. It did not address the status of "Dreamers"—the more than 1 million undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children—and was widely seen as a campaign messaging document rather than a serious legislative proposal.[reference:7] As one analysis noted, it had "little to no chance of being approved in Congress."[reference:8]
💡 Analyst Perspective: A Plan Without a Path
The 2019 merit‑based plan was, in retrospect, the last gasp of a more traditional Republican approach to immigration reform—one that accepted high levels of legal immigration but sought to tilt it toward economic priorities. Trump's second term would abandon this framework entirely, pivoting to an enforcement‑first, restrictionist agenda that left little room for the wonkish details of green card allocation.
🔄 The Biden Interregnum: Reversal and Record Border Crossings
Joe Biden's victory in 2020 ushered in a sharp reversal of Trump's immigration policies. On his first day in office, Biden signed executive orders to preserve and fortify DACA, end the "Remain in Mexico" policy, and halt construction of the border wall. Refugee admissions, which had been slashed to historic lows under Trump, were increased dramatically—with annual caps raised back to 125,000 by 2024.[reference:9]
But the Biden administration's approach was soon tested by an unprecedented surge in migration at the southern border. By 2023, the administration had introduced stricter asylum eligibility rules, requiring migrants to use lawful entry channels or demonstrate special exceptions—a policy that drew sharp criticism from immigration advocates.[reference:10] The administration also leaned heavily on "parole" programs, establishing new legal pathways for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) to enter the U.S. temporarily. Within weeks of the 2025 change in administration, many of these programs were rescinded, leaving millions at risk of losing status or facing deportation.[reference:11]
By the end of Biden's term, the number of immigrants protected from deportation by DACA had nearly quadrupled, from 89,000 in January 2021 to 342,260 in January 2025—with 91% having entered without a visa.[reference:12] The southern border had become the central political vulnerability that Trump would exploit in his 2024 campaign.
🗳️ The 2024 Campaign: From "Concepts of a Plan" to Mass Deportation
When Trump launched his 2024 comeback campaign, the careful merit‑based framework of 2019 was nowhere to be found. Instead, the former president ran on a far more aggressive platform: closing the border, ending birthright citizenship, and carrying out the "largest mass deportation program in history."[reference:13] The nuanced debates over green card allocation were replaced by a singular focus on enforcement and removal.
On healthcare—the issue that dominated the 2019 briefing cycle—Trump was similarly vague. When asked about his plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, he famously said he had only "concepts of a plan."[reference:14] The GOP's long‑promised replacement for Obamacare, which Trump had pledged to unveil after the 2020 election, had never materialized. By 2024, Republicans had largely abandoned the "repeal and replace" mantra, with Trump instead promising a "much better" health plan without providing specifics.[reference:15]
The 2024 campaign was won on immigration—but not on the wonkish details of visa categories. It was won on the visceral promise to restore order at the border and remove those who had entered illegally. The Kushner plan was dead; the enforcement agenda was ascendant.
🏛️ Trump's Second Term: Mass Deportation and Legislative Battles
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has moved aggressively to fulfill his campaign promises. The administration has launched the "largest mass deportation program in history," with ICE arrests and removals surging to levels not seen in decades.[reference:16] The border wall construction has resumed, and the "Remain in Mexico" policy has been reinstated. Travel bans targeting several majority‑Muslim and African nations have been reimposed and expanded.
But the mass deportation campaign has faced significant headwinds. A January 2026 poll found that nearly half of U.S. adults believe Trump's deportation campaign is too aggressive—including one in five of his own 2024 voters.[reference:17] Sanctuary cities have refused to cooperate, and federal courts have blocked several of the administration's more sweeping executive actions. The logistical and financial costs of deporting millions of people have strained ICE's resources and sparked debates within the administration about prioritization.
In his February 2026 State of the Union address, Trump made scant mention of immigration—long his favorite issue—focusing instead on manufacturing jobs, tariffs, and foreign policy.[reference:18] The shift in emphasis was notable: after a year of aggressive enforcement, the political upside of immigration may be waning, even as the operational challenges mount.
📜 The 2026 Legislative Landscape: SMART Act, DIGNITY Act, and Biometrics
While the executive branch has focused on enforcement, Congress has been quietly working on a suite of immigration bills that reflect the enduring influence of the 2019 merit‑based vision—even as the political center of gravity has shifted.
The SMART Act
In June 2025, Representative Byron Donalds (R‑FL) introduced the SMART Act (H.R. 3466), which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a skills‑based immigration points system, focus family‑sponsored immigration on spouses and minor children, eliminate the Diversity Visa Program, and set a limit on refugee admissions.[reference:19] The bill is, in essence, a legislative revival of the 2019 Kushner plan—now with a Republican Congress potentially able to move it forward.
The DIGNITY Act
On the bipartisan front, the DIGNITY Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393) has emerged as the most viable comprehensive reform proposal. The bill has secured 35 cosponsors and support from 60 national stakeholder groups.[reference:20] It combines border security measures with a pathway to legal status for certain undocumented immigrants, reflecting the kind of compromise that has eluded Congress for decades.
Biometric Tracking
In April 2026, Representative Donalds introduced the Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act, which would mandate a formal evaluation of biometric entry‑exit tracking at U.S. ports of entry. A final rule issued in December 2025 now mandates a nationwide rollout, and Donalds' legislation aims to ensure it is fully executed.[reference:21][reference:22]
💡 Analyst Perspective: The Enduring Appeal of Merit‑Based Reform
Despite the GOP's pivot to enforcement‑first rhetoric, the underlying appeal of a merit‑based immigration system has not disappeared. The SMART Act demonstrates that the ideas Jared Kushner championed in 2019—a points system, prioritizing skills over family ties, eliminating the diversity visa lottery—still have traction among Republican lawmakers. The question is whether a Congress consumed by budget battles and midterm politics can actually pass such a bill, or whether it will meet the same fate as its 2019 predecessor.
🔍 Where Are They Now? The 2019 Cast
The key figures from the 2019 immigration briefing have taken divergent paths in the seven years since.
Jared Kushner
The architect of the 2019 merit‑based plan stepped back from politics after Trump's first term ended. He founded Affinity Partners, a private equity firm backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, and has largely remained outside the political fray. His immigration plan, however, lives on in the legislative DNA of the SMART Act.
Senator Lindsey Graham
The South Carolina senator, who in 2019 was warning that "habitual pettiness" would consume Congress as the 2020 election approached, remains a key player in immigration debates.[reference:23] He has been a vocal supporter of Trump's enforcement agenda while also working behind the scenes on bipartisan compromises. His Judiciary Committee continues to be the central arena for immigration legislation.
Stephen Miller
The immigration hawk who helped craft the 2019 plan alongside Kushner returned to the White House in 2025 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. He has been the driving force behind the administration's aggressive deportation agenda and the expansion of travel bans. His vision of immigration policy—restrictionist, enforcement‑focused, and skeptical of even legal immigration—has largely eclipsed the more moderate Kushner framework within the administration.
📊 U.S. Immigration Policy: 2019 vs. 2026
| Metric | 2019 (Kushner Plan) | 2026 (Current Reality) |
|---|---|---|
| Green Card Allocation | Proposed 57% skills‑based (up from 12%) | No change; SMART Act proposes similar shift |
| Family‑Based Immigration | Proposed reduction; focus on spouses/minor children | Unchanged; SMART Act mirrors 2019 proposal |
| Diversity Visa Lottery | Proposed elimination | Still exists; SMART Act proposes elimination |
| Border Enforcement | Wall construction; Remain in Mexico | Mass deportation; expanded wall; biometric tracking |
| Refugee Admissions | Slash to historic lows (~18,000/year) | ~125,000 cap under Biden; Trump 2.0 reducing |
| Dreamers/DACA | Not addressed in 2019 plan | Protected under Biden; Trump 2.0 challenged in courts |
| Key Legislative Vehicle | No bill introduced; messaging document | SMART Act (H.R. 3466); DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393) |
| Political Center of Gravity | Skills‑based reform; legal immigration | Mass deportation; border security; enforcement |
📋 The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways for 2026
📋 The 2019 Kushner Plan Was a Messaging Document: Trump's merit‑based immigration proposal was unveiled in the Rose Garden as a 2020 campaign tool, but it had no path through Congress and never became law.
🔄 The GOP Has Pivoted to Enforcement: Trump's 2024 campaign and second term have been defined by mass deportation, border wall expansion, and travel bans—a far more aggressive agenda than the wonkish 2019 plan.
🏛️ The SMART Act Revives the 2019 Vision: Representative Byron Donalds' SMART Act (H.R. 3466) would implement many of the same reforms—a points‑based system, elimination of the diversity visa lottery, and prioritization of skills over family ties.
🤝 The DIGNITY Act Offers Bipartisan Hope: With 35 cosponsors and support from 60 stakeholder groups, the DIGNITY Act is the most viable comprehensive reform proposal in years—though its fate remains uncertain.
📱 Biometric Tracking Is Becoming Reality: A final rule issued in December 2025 mandates a nationwide rollout of biometric entry‑exit tracking, a long‑sought goal of immigration hawks.
👤 Stephen Miller Has Won the Internal Debate: The 2019 plan was a compromise between Kushner's pro‑business instincts and Miller's restrictionism. In 2026, Miller's enforcement‑first vision dominates the administration.
🔮 The 2026 Midterms Will Shape What's Next: If Republicans maintain control of Congress, the SMART Act and further enforcement measures could advance. If Democrats regain ground, the DIGNITY Act's bipartisan approach may gain traction.
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