Immigration lawyers are getting ready for a host of changes when Donald Trump becomes president.  Claire Nilson, US immigration attorney at US law firm Faegre Baker Daniels says that the inauguration on Friday could be the starter pistol of a race for immigration changes under the new presidency. 'Encompassing both ends of the country and the USA’s closest geographic neighbours, Mr Trump has indicated (among other immigration-related plans) his continuing desire both to build a wall  along the Southern border with Mexico and to either renegotiate or withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),' she said. 

'Fix' immigration  

Ms Nilson pointed to the appointment of Senator Jeff Sessions as  Attorney General as another example. 'At his confirmation hearing last week, Senator Sessions encouraged lawmakers to “fix” the immigration system even though he has a history of opposing all prior efforts to reform this system. He also reiterated his belief that DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is unconstitutional overreaching by President Obama.'

Internal memo

She also highlighted an internal agency memo leaked to the press in early December where Mr Trump’s transition team 'apparently asked the Department of Homeland Security to assess assets available for border wall and barrier constrution,aerial surveillance along the southern border and the capacity to expand immigrant detention, as well as requesting copies of every executive order and directive sent to immigration officials since President Obama took office. This is our clearest indication yet of the immigration road that the new President and his team plan to travel following his inauguration on Friday.'