Trump's second term sparks concerns about diversity civil liberties and democratic collapse

Minority groups, particularly African Americans, are bracing for the consequences of this new political climate

2194402172 Opening salvo: Trump supporters at a celebratory march after the presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, on January 20 | Getty Images

Wisconsin & Minnesota

DONALD TRUMP’S FIRST few days in office saw his radical viewpoints on gender and illegal immigration translate into swift action, renewing concerns among liberal politicians and civil society groups who had long feared that a second Trump presidency would harm America’s diversity, equity and inclusion and bring the country to the brink of democratic collapse. They watched helplessly as Trump issued executive orders abolishing birthright citizenship, ending protections for transgender individuals and deporting hundreds of undocumented immigrants. These actions risk separating minors, including infants born in the US, from their non-American parents.

The legal fraternity fears that by the time Trump’s second term ends, the American justice system will reflect extreme right-wing ideologies, with women, minorities and disadvantaged groups bearing the brunt.

In his maiden address as the 47th president of the US, Trump berated the outgoing Biden administration as one that failed to protect law-abiding American citizens and provided sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals who illegally entered the US. Sharpening his diatribe against Democrats for “betraying” the country―a theme central to his anti-establishment appeal―Trump pledged to upend the old order, “reclaim sovereignty” and “restore safety”.

Trump declared that his presidency would end the “unfair weaponisation of the justice department”. Throughout his campaign, he had portrayed felony accusations and convictions against him as an establishment plot to thwart his return to power. Experts fear his focus on overhauling the justice system signals a politics of retribution, a threat he alluded to during the campaign. His first presidency saw American courts inundated with right-leaning justices, culminating in the 2022 overruling of the 1973 Roe v. Wade verdict, which had guaranteed federal protection for abortion rights.

Trump took credit during his rallies for “killing” Roe v. Wade. The legal fraternity fears that by the time Trump’s second term ends, the American justice system will reflect extreme right-wing ideologies, with women, minorities and disadvantaged groups bearing the brunt. For Trump supporters, however, this fear represents a triumphant moment. As Trump declared: “The golden age of America begins right now.”

On January 24, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X that Trump was sending a strong message to the world: “those who enter the United States illegally will face serious consequences.” The post featured an image of migrants being escorted to a deportation flight with the caption: “Deportation flights have begun.” The announcement followed the arrest of hundreds of migrants in the US and the deportation of others aboard military aircraft.

Trump’s first week also saw the halting of an asylum programme for people fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands stranded on the Mexican side of the border. Meanwhile, a Republican-majority Congress ratified a bill expanding pretrial incarceration for foreign criminal suspects.

During his election campaign, Trump pledged to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel illegal immigrants. Originally enacted to prevent foreign espionage during wartime, the Act empowers the president to detain or deport citizens of enemy nations without a hearing. Human rights groups have long condemned the law as a constitutional overreach. According to the department of homeland security, the US currently has an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.

Trump’s crackdown on “illegal immigration” has drawn widespread criticism from rights groups and political scientists, who fear executive overreach will further erode civil liberties and deepen partisan ideological divides. David Schultz, a prominent political commentator and author of over 45 books on American politics, offered a bleak assessment of Trump’s return to power: “These are not good times for racial minorities and immigrants in the United States. Donald Trump has confused his marginal victory with a mandate and is using it to press a hateful and discriminatory agenda. Some of his actions will face legal challenges, but much of what he intends will persist, worsening the lives of millions. This is the new politics of meanness in America.”

The embrace of fear-driven politics during Trump’s presidency may also embolden conservative regimes across Europe and autocratic states in South Asia. Some experts believe the Democratic campaign’s framing of the election as a referendum on Trump’s radical vision allowed him to portray his victory as an endorsement of his plans to restructure the US, rather than a reflection of voter disillusionment over economic stagnation.

Minority groups, particularly African Americans, are bracing for the consequences of this new political climate. Tahiru Titus Jafaru, a retired civil engineer from Nigeria who has lived in the US for over a decade, expressed dismay. “Trump’s politics is premised on white nationalism, which is inherently exclusive,” he said. “When dominant political thought embraces fear and hate, segregation becomes inevitable. Trump’s policies won’t just reshape laws―they will worsen the day-to-day experiences of people of colour.”

Trump supporters, however, reject pessimistic portrayal of his immigration policies. Jerry Dubois, a Trump voter from Wisconsin, argued that concerns over illegal immigration are about national security, not personal animosity. “Illegal immigrants are an issue, but I have seen no rancour among locals. We just want immigrants to follow the legal process,” said Dubois.

On his inauguration day, Trump received applause for declaring a national emergency on the Mexico border. While some, like Joshua Rubin of the Greater Nogales Port Authority in Arizona, acknowledge the need to address illegal immigration, others remain sceptical about the administration’s broader intentions.

Trump’s inaugural actions were not limited to immigration. He swiftly signed executive orders rescinding protections for transgender people and ending diversity, equity and inclusion programmes in federal institutions. The government will now legally recognise only two genders―male and female. The definition will be based on whether people are born with eggs or sperm, rather than on their chromosomes.

These measures, though aligned with Trump’s campaign rhetoric, have created anxiety. At Franklin Park in Washington, DC, an elderly man expressed concern for his LGBTQ grandchildren. Pro-Choice Minnesota, an organisation advocating diversity and equity, said, “Trump’s policies strip rights, embolden discrimination, and deepen inequities along race, gender, and class lines. For immigrants, dismantling protections like birthright citizenship risks widespread fear, family separations and instability. For LGBTQ+ individuals, redefining gender eliminates critical protections in health care, employment, and civil rights.”

With Trump backed by a favourable Congress, America now awaits the impact of his domestic policies and their implications for geopolitics amidst evolving international conflicts.