As President Donald Trump’s administration recently marked its 100th day in office, it cannot be overstated how much it has transformed America’s southern border from a porous gateway to a fortified barrier, delivering on a central campaign promise with unprecedented speed and resolve.
The Biden-Harris administration repeatedly claimed that securing the border required a comprehensive act of Congress — a slow, bureaucratic process mired in partisan gridlock. Yet, Trump’s decisive executive actions have proven them wrong, slashing illegal border crossings by a staggering 95 percent and restoring law and order to a frontier once overrun by chaos.
From day one, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, signaling an unwavering commitment to end the invasion of illegal aliens that has strained communities, burdened taxpayers, and compromised public safety. Within weeks, daily encounters at southwest border ports of entry plummeted compared to the final weeks of Biden.
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin noted the stark reality: “If Fox were to send me down there right now, I would have trouble finding a single migrant on camera.” This rapid turnaround was achieved not through legislative haggling but through executive orders that repurposed the CBP One app — a Biden-era tool that facilitated over one million illegal entries — reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and ended catch-and-release practices.
Central to Trump’s success is his administration’s aggressive deportation campaign, which has prioritized removing criminal aliens and dismantling the grip of violent foreign gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. In the first 50 days alone, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 32,809 illegal immigrants, nearly 75 percent of whom were accused or convicted criminals, matching the total arrests in Biden’s final year. High-profile operations in Florida and Massachusetts netted hundreds of dangerous individuals, including murderers, child rapists, and fentanyl traffickers.
The administration’s designation of these gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations has enabled a whole-of-government approach to disrupt their drug- and human-trafficking networks. Nearly 300 members of these gangs have been deported to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, ensuring they no longer threaten American communities. By detaining some of the most dangerous offenders at Guantanamo Bay and invoking the Alien Enemies Act, Trump has sent a clear message: America will not tolerate foreign criminals exploiting its borders.
These deportation efforts are making the country safer, particularly in sanctuary communities that have shielded criminal aliens from federal authorities. The administration’s directive to publish a list of non-compliant jurisdictions and withhold federal funds from them has pressured local governments to comply with federal immigration enforcement.
Yet, Trump’s critics have decried these measures, framing them as cruel and racially motivated. They argue that his policies “rip apart families” and “demonize immigrants,” conveniently ignoring the criminality his administration targets.
This narrative reveals a troubling acceptance of a more violent, lawless America, where unchecked illegal migration and gang activity are tolerated to advance a political agenda rooted in surrendered borders and amnesty. By prioritizing the rights of illegal aliens over the safety of American citizens, these critics dismiss the victims of migrant crime like Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray, whose deaths Trump has vowed to honor through justice and enforcement.
The economic and social costs of unchecked immigration are further motivation for the urgency of Trump’s policies. Illegal immigration under Biden cost taxpayers billions annually, strained schools and hospitals, and drove down wages for American workers. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada have compelled these nations to deploy thousands of troops to curb fentanyl smuggling and illegal crossings, demonstrating his ability to leverage diplomacy for border security. Meanwhile, his administration’s ad campaign urging voluntary departure has incentivized self-deportation, reducing the burden on ICE.
By swiftly securing the southern border, dismantling violent gangs, and challenging sanctuary policies, Trump has delivered results that his recent predecessors deemed impossible. His critics’ embrace of chaos over safety reveals a political agenda divorced from the realities of crime and economic strain. Despite ferocious partisan opposition, Trump’s vision — a secure, lawful, and prosperous America — is taking shape, proving that decisive action, not endless legislation and ineffective half measures, is the path to true national security.
Dale L. Wilcox is executive director and general counsel for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration.
