> It's just that under Trump illegal border crossings became criminal, rather than civil, offences.
The offense didn't change, it's just that the Trump administration started doing more Section 1325 prosecutions[1]. The original law has been on the books since 1929, and IIRIRA in 1996 added a stronger penalty for reentry.
For decades prior to 2005, this law was hardly used, but under the George W. Bush administration, "Operation Streamline," a DHS/DOJ program still in effect today, began to use it.
The offense didn't change, it's just that the Trump administration started doing more Section 1325 prosecutions[1]. The original law has been on the books since 1929, and IIRIRA in 1996 added a stronger penalty for reentry.
For decades prior to 2005, this law was hardly used, but under the George W. Bush administration, "Operation Streamline," a DHS/DOJ program still in effect today, began to use it.
[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1325