Donald Trump's Anti-Immigration Policy Has an Australian Flavour

Strict asylum seeker measures to deportation policies, Australia's immigration laws provided Trump with a blueprint.

US President Donald Trump has upped the ante on immigration laws after coming back to power in the 2024 elections.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Last week, after watching the electrifying quarterfinal clash between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open in Melbourne, I wandered back to my hotel along the tranquil Yarra River. It was past 1 am. Pausing to capture the reflections of glimmering lights dancing upon the river’s surface, I overheard this conversation between a shaggy, old homeless man and a young, intoxicated soul sitting on a bench behind me.

"That bloke – Trump – got sworn in yesterday. Reckon he’s nicked a thing or two from our Aussie immigration rules. No automatic citizenship just 'cause you're born here’,” slurred the drunk.

"Yeah – and boot out the crims (criminals) and gangsters too," chimed in the homeless fellow, his voice a mix of weariness and resolve.

They were correct.

Australia's Hard Line Against Immigrants

In the realm of global immigration policy, Australia’s strict and controversial measures have long served as a model for countries seeking to tighten their borders.

Among those impressed is US President Donald Trump, who has often praised Australia’s hardline approach.

From strict asylum seeker measures to deportation policies, Australia's tough immigration framework provided Trump with a blueprint for his agenda to shape America’s policy.

Australia's immigration policies emphasise deterrence and strict control, particularly targeting asylum seekers arriving by boat. Central to this approach is Operation Sovereign Borders, a military-led initiative launched in 2013 to prevent unauthorised maritime arrivals.

The policy includes turning back boats at sea, returning asylum seekers to their country of origin or neighbouring nations; detaining unauthorised arrivals in offshore facilities in Nauru or Papua New Guinea, often under harsh conditions; barring individuals who arrive by boat from ever settling in Australia, even if they are recognised as genuine refugees; and enforcing mandatory detention for all unauthorised arrivals, sometimes for indefinite periods.

On an earlier visit to the Great Barrier Reef, I had witnessed Australian naval vessels speeding past us, on their way to intercept and turn away a boat full of wretched people, with empty bellies and cold feet, escaping tyranny and prosecution at home to seek a peaceful and productive life in Australia.

These measures, while successful in reducing boat arrivals, have faced widespread criticism from human rights organisations and the United Nations for being inhumane and violating international refugee laws.

Trump’s Aussie Obsession

During his previous presidency, Trump couldn’t help but gush over Australia’s immigration policies, especially their tough-love approach to asylum seekers.

In 2017, during a phone call with then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump declared, “You’re worse than I am,” clearly impressed by Australia’s refusal to roll out the welcome mat for asylum seekers. Although he initially grumbled about the US-Australia refugee resettlement deal, he eventually decided Australia’s no-nonsense method was the gold standard for “securing the borders.”

Some of the key Australian influences on Trump’s immigration policies include: 

1. Zero Tolerance for Unauthorised Entry

Australia’s strict rejection of unauthorised arrivals inspired Trump’s "zero tolerance" policy, under which anyone crossing the US-Mexico border without authorisation faced criminal prosecution.

Like Australia, the Trump administration aimed to send a clear message to deter illegal immigration. The policy resulted in the widely criticised “family separation crisis”, where children were separated from their parents at the border.

While Australia’s policies do not explicitly involve family separations, the detention of families in offshore centres has drawn similar condemnation for its impact on children’s mental health.

2. Deterrence Through Harsh Conditions

Australia’s offshore detention system has been criticised for its inhumane conditions, with reports of abuse, mental health crises, and even suicides. At the Nauru Detention Centre, the case of a young girl who set herself on fire in protest made headlines, drawing international condemnation.

The Trump administration adopted a similar deterrence strategy by holding migrants in overcrowded and poorly maintained detention centres along the southern border.

The idea is to create an environment so unwelcoming that it would dissuade others from attempting to enter the country.

3. Restricting Asylum Claims

Australia’s policies effectively eliminate the possibility of asylum for those arriving by boat, redirecting them to third countries or keeping them in offshore detention indefinitely.

Trump attempted a comparable policy through the ‘Remain in Mexico’ programme (officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols). This policy forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed in US courts, often under dangerous and unsanitary conditions.

4. Focus on Merit-Based Immigration

Australia’s immigration system prioritises skilled migrants through a ‘points-based system’, which favours applicants with high levels of education, work experience, and English proficiency.

Trump repeatedly expressed interest in shifting the US immigration system away from family reunification and toward a merit-based model. Although this goal was not fully realised during his previous presidency, it remained a significant part of the Republican Party’s platform.

5. Deportation Policies

Australia’s Section 501 of the Migration Act allows for the deportation of non-citizens, including permanent residents, who fail a “character test,” such as having a criminal record. Trump similarly focused on increasing deportations of undocumented immigrants and non-citizens with criminal records, portraying them as threats to public safety.

Both countries’ policies have also had broader geopolitical implications. Australia's hardline stance has strained relationships with neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, while Trump’s immigration agenda has contributed to tensions with Mexico and other Latin American nations.

Australia and Trump’s immigration policies share a common theme: putting border security front and centre, while sidelining humanitarian concerns.

By painting undocumented migrants as a threat to national security and sovereignty, both governments have spun their tough measures as necessary for protecting the nation. And for garnering votes.

Politicians like Peter Dutton, leader of Australia’s Liberal Party, have borrowed a page from Trump’s playbook, hammering the immigration control issue to win over certain voter groups.

European nations like Hungary and Italy have cited Australia as an example in their efforts to deter migrants.

Australia’s immigration model has not only influenced the US but also other countries seeking stricter border controls. The global adoption of such policies risks eroding international norms on refugee protection and human rights.

(Akhil Bakshi, an author and explorer, is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Explorers Club USA, and Editor of ‘Indian Mountaineer’. He is also the founder of Bharatiya Yuva Shakti, an organisation that ensures good leadership at the village level. He tweets @AkhilBakshi1. This is an opinion piece, and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)