Trump targeting immigrants from countries hit most by climate shocks

Key Points:

• The Trump administration’s immigration restrictions disproportionately target people from countries highly vulnerable to climate-driven disasters, with 22 of 39 banned or restricted countries ranked in the most climate-vulnerable quarter globally.
• Many affected nations, including Chad, Niger, Sudan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Honduras, face severe climate impacts such as storms, droughts, and flooding, which drive displacement and migration pressures.
• The administration has sought to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from several climate-affected countries, including Honduras, Syria, and Haiti, despite ongoing environmental crises that exacerbate displacement.
• US immigration law currently does not recognize climate change or environmental disasters as grounds for asylum, and legislative efforts to create protections for climate-displaced persons have stalled amid political opposition.
• Experts warn that the Trump administration’s policies, including cuts to foreign aid and refugee programs, will worsen displacement crises and leave vulnerable populations with fewer options to seek safety in the US.