“Insular, paranoid Donald Trump is turning the U.S. into a self-doubting republic,” critiques the immigration policies and overall approach of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Summary of the key points:

• Core Argument: The article contends that Donald Trump’s actions are transforming the United States into an “insular, paranoid, self-doubting republic”. It argues that his policies are eroding the nation’s self-image as “the shining city on a hill” and that shutting its doors to immigrants is not making the U.S. safer.
• Key Immigration Decisions by Trump:
  • Travel Ban: Trump issued a decision to ban citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing national security concerns. This followed a previous 2017 decision banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
  • Affected Countries: The ban specifically applied to citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela. Some individuals from countries like Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela were allowed if they had active visas outside the U.S..
  • Asylum System Suspension: Trump also suspended the asylum system at the southern border.
  • Temporary Residency End: Legal residency was ended for Haitians, Venezuelans, and Cubans.
  • Student Visa Status Removal: The legal status of thousands of foreign students was removed.
  • Visa Interview Pause: U.S. diplomatic missions were instructed to pause scheduling new visa interviews.
• Rationale and Criticism:
  • Trump’s Stated Rationale: Trump claimed the ban was aimed at preventing terrorist attacks.
  • Article’s Counter-Argument: The article deems Trump’s claim that immigrants bring crime as “ill-founded”. It highlights that many people seeking entry are from countries affected by American military intervention (like Haiti and Afghanistan) or are fleeing war, persecution, and systemic violence.
  • Impact: Trump’s decisions have triggered chaos and protests, evoked criticism of the United States, and led to legal challenges.
• Administration’s Strategy: The administration is accused of using social media and scholars to spread chaos and uncertainty about America’s universities.