Trump's immigration executive actions seek to bolster border security and expedite deportations

Fulfilling his campaign promise, President Donald Trump today signed two executive orders to reduce illegal immigration into the country by strengthening border security, streamlining the deportation process, and penalizing "sanctuary cities" that want to protect undocumented immigrants.

The executive actions, entitled "Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements" and "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States," cover several issues, including border security and the deportation of criminal immigrants.

The measures are aimed at enforcing immigration law using all government resources.

These are some of the key points established in the measures:

* Expansion and construction of the wall with Mexico

* Hiring of 5,000 agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and 10,000 more for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

* Construction of new facilities for detaining undocumented immigrants at the southern border.

* Assignment of more asylum officers to conduct credible fear interviews for asylum cases in detention centers.

* Assignment of more immigration judges within detention centers to expedite processing, determine who receives asylum, and conduct removal proceedings for undocumented immigrants.

* Continue with the elimination of the "catch and release" policy for undocumented persons arrested by immigration authorities.

* Extension of deportation or expedited removal of undocumented aliens apprehended at the border or elsewhere in the country who cannot demonstrate that they have been in the United States continuously for the past two years.

* Completion of the Priority Compliance Program (PPP).Priority Enforcement Program).

* Restoration of the Secure Communities programwhich establishes a system of automatic cooperation between local law enforcement authorities and DHS when investigating the criminal history of arrested persons.

* Expansion of deportation priorities to include persons who have been found guilty of certain crimes, who have been charged with a crime but have not been sentenced, and those who have abused public benefits.

* Authorization to state and local authorities wishing to act as immigration officers in investigations and arrests to the extent permitted by law.

* Penalizing "sanctuary cities" that harbor undocumented immigrants by cutting federal funding, except when required for law enforcement purposes.