Under President Trump's new immigration policy, immigration officials will be allowed to enter schools and churches.

Former President Joe Biden's administration had previously designated churches and schools as "protected areas".

The guideline stated that immigration operations could not take place in or near locations that provided "essential" services.

Now, however, a new policy from the Department of Homeland Security allows immigration officers to enter schools and churches to make arrests.

The new US President also reinstated a programme that will force asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are being heard.

President Donald Trump gives remarks on AI Infrastructure as Larry Ellison, Chief technology officer of Oracle, Junichi Miyakawa, CEO of SoftBank Corp, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI look on in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Image: Schwartz/Pool via CNP /MediaPunch

At the Texas border, Guatemalan migrant Ericka Daniza Torres Mendoza reacted to the news.

"In a split second, the door was slammed in our face," she said.

"I don't know what to think anymore.

"I hope the new President gets some conscience and for him to accept that we can enter."

In his inaugural address on Monday, President Trump said he planned to "defend [the US] from threats and invasions".

Border wall

He has since instructed officials to begin construction on the wall along the US-Mexico border.

Another executive order signed by President Trump will deny birthright citizenship to children of immigrants who entered the US either illegally or on temporary visas.

This runs contrary to the long-running interpretation of the US Constitution which states that people born on American soil are US citizens.

President Trump has now ordered officials to stop issuing passports and citizenship documents to children born to parents who are not citizens, legal permanent residents or temporary visa holders.

The American Civil Liberties Union has since filed a lawsuit against the executive order.

Feature image: President Donald Trump, Alamy