Everything stated below is sourced from NYT articles and DHS students (most students wished to remain anonymous)
In his second term, President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his vision of a strong, assertive executive branch, advancing bold and controversial actions through executive orders. With some students saying they are scared and “don’t know what to expect” in these next 4 years. These moves, which challenge legal norms and interpretations, have sparked debate over the limits of presidential power.
One such action came on Monday, January 22, 2025, when Trump revived a ban on the popular social media app TikTok, instructing prosecutors not to enforce a law mandating its Chinese owner’s divestment. This defied both a law signed by President Biden and a Supreme Court ruling. Some students like freshman Emma Hutchens said she was glad tik tok wasn’t banned, having a connection to the app over the years. Trump’s justification was rooted in his broader constitutional authority over national security, but some students said they thought it stretched the limits of presidential power, especially as the Constitution requires presidents to “faithfully execute” the laws.
In other orders, Trump directed U.S. Northern Command to develop a plan to address immigration through military action, raising concerns about the blurring of military and law enforcement roles. With a student saying, “I’m nervous about the damage he’ll do to people that don’t deserve it.”
He also declared a national emergency at the border, reviving a tactic from his first term to fund border wall construction, despite the absence of clear evidence of an emergency justifying such a declaration. One student said, “I don’t care if the evidence doesn’t line up perfectly, we need to get all those immigrants back in their country.”
He also pushed for a redefinition of immigration law, proposing restrictions on asylum claims and challenging established notions of birthright citizenship. He made another order on birthright citizenship that signals a more aggressive stance toward immigration law. Trump instructed agencies to stop issuing citizenship documents to babies born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants or non-permanent visitors, challenging the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The legality of this move remains unclear and is expected to be challenged in court.
Additionally, Trump issued an emergency declaration in the energy sector, citing what he described as an inadequate energy supply under Biden’s policies. This claim is at odds with current energy production levels, which remain high.
On his first day, he declared a national energy emergency, enabling him to bypass environmental protections and expedite oil and gas drilling permits, despite low energy prices and record production. “I thought America was already producing an extreme amount of oil and gas. It’s crazy that there’s gonna be more,” another student voiced.
These moves are likely to face legal challenges, with experts warning that such expansive uses of emergency powers could set dangerous precedents if left unchecked. Though Congress passed a bill to limit presidential emergency powers in 2021, it was blocked by Republicans, leaving the door open for further executive overreach.
Trump’s second term is shaping up to be defined by his efforts to reshape the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, with the courts expected to play a crucial role in determining the constitutionality of his actions. Only 9 days into his second term, and with strong opinions from many DHS students, this presidency is looking to be a controversial one.
