When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best... They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.
Watch Trump's Border Security Warnings
How They Responded: "Trump's Claims Are False and Xenophobic"
The Guardian
The Washington Post
PolitiFactEvidence
The data shows a dramatic turnaround in border security under the Trump administration. After reaching historic highs in 2024, border encounters have plummeted to levels not seen since 2017. The February 2025 numbers show just 81,792 encounters nationwide, with 61,465 at the Southwest border - representing a more than 70% reduction from peak levels.
This dramatic decrease follows President Trump's clear message: "if you cross the border illegally, you will be deported without an opportunity to try another day, or in a few hours." The implementation of strict border policies and immediate deportation protocols has proven effective in deterring illegal crossings.
The Vindication: Biden Administration Finally Acknowledged Crisis
"We are experiencing unprecedented challenges at our southern border. The scale of irregular migration and drug trafficking activities has strained our operational capacity and infrastructure beyond sustainable levels. These challenges require immediate action and long-term solutions."
TIME
House Homeland Security CommitteeFinal Analysis
The border security data presents an undeniable vindication of Trump's warnings and policies. What his critics once dismissed as "fear-mongering" has been proven to be prescient analysis, with the numbers telling a stark story of policy consequences.
Consider the trajectory:
- Under Trump's policies in FY 2020: 38,000 monthly encounters
- Under Biden's policies in FY 2023: 183,000 monthly encounters (a 381% increase)
- Crisis peak in December 2024: Over 250,000 encounters in a single month
- After Trump's return and policy reinstatement: Down to 60,000 monthly encounters (a 76% reduction in just 90 days)
The previous administration's dismantling of effective border policies led to exactly what Trump predicted: an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings, overwhelming our border infrastructure and creating both a humanitarian and security crisis. Their "more humane" approach resulted in more human trafficking, more drug smuggling, and more deaths at the border - the very consequences Trump had warned about.
The rapid turnaround since Trump's return to office - achieving a 76% reduction in border encounters in just three months - serves as a powerful reminder that border security is fundamentally a matter of policy choice and political will. When clear consequences are established and consistently enforced, illegal border crossings drop dramatically.
This case stands as one of the most dramatic examples of a political leader being proven right after years of ridicule from media critics and political opponents. The numbers don't lie: Trump's "tough" approach to border security, far from being cruel or ineffective as critics claimed, has proven to be both more humane and more successful than the permissive policies that replaced it.
