Efrain Sella, a seasoned Border Patrol veteran with 25 years under his belt until his 2019 retirement, couldn’t hold back his elation seeing the enhanced presence of Border Patrol agents at the southern border since President Donald Trump assumed office. Speaking at a meeting of the Big Bend Area Law Enforcement Association in March, he observed the rapid alterations happening at the border, thanks to the Trump administration’s policies. In contrast, he criticized the lackadaisical border control methods under Joe Biden’s rule. With relief in his voice, Sella emphasized the stark improvements under Trump’s regime compared to the loosely guarded ‘open gate’ system during Biden’s time.
Under Trump’s presidency, a surge of resources has been dedicated to ensuring control at the border which starkly contrasts with Biden’s almost casual approach to border security. Reinforcing the border has been clearly prioritized, reflected in the reinstatement of key policies that were either scantily enforced or completely ignored previously. For instance, the implementation of the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy now ensures that those seeking asylum must patiently wait in Mexico for a hearing.
Another significant step taken by the Trump administration is ending the controversial ‘Catch and Release’ policy, which fundamentally transformed immigration enforcement. This marked shift in policy has concentrated attention on arresting and deporting illegal aliens with criminal records. Absent in this narrative is anything resembling Biden’s sympathy for illegal immigrants, which was often at the expense of national security.
To further bolster border security under Trump’s regime, some criminal cartels have been freshly designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This contrasts jarringly with the reticent stance of the previous administration as James Frietze, a 25-year veteran of the New Mexico State Police pointed out. As he sees it, this wasn’t just a routine change but a game-changer in controlling the border.
A notable impact of declaring these cartels as terrorist organizations is the availability of military personnel and cutting-edge intelligence equipment for confronting the border situation head-on. The immediate impact of these measures was confirmed by Russell Johnson, a rancher who owns property adjacent to Mexico in Luna County, New Mexico. His ranch started witnessing the frequent presence of Border Patrol agents from the very day Trump took office.
In a display of significant change, Johnson chronicled how sighting a Border Patrol helicopter used to be a rare occurrence before Trump’s presidency kicked off. The clear presence of Border Patrol along the border provides Johnson with the reassurance that the border issue might actually be tackled decisively. Under Biden’s leadership, such reassurance was something Johnson likely didn’t have the luxury to feel.
Importantly, Johnson is now noticing that illegal crossings through his ranch are almost ‘nonexistent.’ Although he believes in the importance of completing the unfinished border wall on his property, it’s noteworthy how the mere enforcement of existing border laws under the Trump administration made a dramatic shift in traffic. This stands in stark contrast to the leniency and inaction observed in Biden’s time.
As per official statistics from Customs and Border Protection, the Trump administration’s revitalized approach has led to a sharp decline in illegal alien encounters at the southern border. The data telling a discouraging tale for proponents of a lax border policy, such as Biden, with the numbers tumbling from 96,036 in December to a mere 11,709 by February.
Arvin West, Sheriff of Hudspeth County in Texas, echoes the stark reduction in illegal crossings under the Trump administration. Since Trump took oath two months ago, he has noticed a ‘drastic’ drop in illegal crossings. The sheer contrast between the Biden era’s open borders and the current tightened security could not escape West’s observations.
However, despite the encouraging drop in illegal crossings, the drug trade has held steady. West anticipates that heightened border security might push Mexican cartels to adapt and become more audacious in their attempts to smuggle drugs across the border. Thankfully, the laughably cavalier attitude of past administrations toward such threats is no longer in vogue.
The newly enforced border control measures have undoubtedly made an immense improvement. As per Sheriff West, the border is ‘a lot, lot better’, perhaps even ‘100% better’ than during the Obama or Biden reign. Contrast this with the recklessly negligent approach taken by Biden and co, and the difference is night and day.
While all of this progress is heartening, the sheriff notes that the problem persists. Illegal activities are still taking place across the border. Still, it’s worth reflecting on how much worse the situation could have become had Biden’s border policy blunders continued.
In conclusion, border control under Trump has made leaps and bounds compared to the previous administration. This revolution stands in stark contrast to the frustratingly lax and misguided policies of Joe Biden. Nonetheless, there’s still a lot more to be done, and with the current administration’s unflagging dedication, the border issue might finally receive the attention it deserves.