Since taking office, President Donald J. Trump and his administration have claimed to establish the most secure border in contemporary American history—all without the need for new legislation. Trump has seemingly followed through on his campaign promises, introducing an era characterized by an aggressive approach to homeland security.
Here are some of the promises he made:
PROMISE MADE: “We will close the border. We will stop the invasion of illegals into our country.” (10/12/24, Aurora, CO)
PROMISE KEPT:
- Illegal border encounters have reportedly decreased by 95%.
- The number of illegal immigrant “gotaways”—those who evade capture—has plummeted by 99%. Border officials suggest that finding migrants on camera today is a challenge.
- Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin stated, “If Fox were to send me down there right now, I would have trouble finding a single migrant on camera.”
- CBS immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez commented that during his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, he did not observe any groups attempting to cross illegally.
- The Wall Street Journal noted a significant reduction in border crossings as Trump’s stringent policies took effect.
- The New York Times reported on how Trump’s hardline tactics are contributing to decreased migration rates.
- CBS News highlighted a plunge in illegal border crossings to levels not witnessed in decades amid Trump’s crackdown.
- Axios reinforced that border crossings have reached their lowest levels in decades.
- New York Post reported that the northern border sector, once inundated with illegal migrants, has seen a dramatic drop, with reports of no crossings since November.
- The Times humorously noted that a former border hotspot now only sees quail.
- Reuters confirmed that migrant arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border in March have hit record lows.
- Bloomberg reported that U.S.-bound migration has dropped 99% along the perilous Panama jungle route.
- The Washington Times claimed that under Trump, the catch-and-release policy has decreased by 99.99% compared to the worst month under Biden.
- Los Angeles Times noted that the California-Mexico border, once overwhelmed, is now nearly deserted.
PROMISE MADE: “We will expel every single illegal alien gang member and migrant criminal operating on American soil and remove the savage gang, Tren de Aragua, from the United States.” (1/19/25, Washington, D.C.)
PROMISE KEPT:
- President Trump has designated Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and other notorious gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
- The Department of Justice reported that 27 members or associates of Tren de Aragua face charges related to racketeering, narcotics, sex trafficking, robbery, and firearms offenses.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated that under Trump’s administration, over 150,000 aliens have been arrested, including more than 600 members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
- The Trump Administration successfully directed the apprehension of a key MS-13 leader, an illegal immigrant residing in Virginia.
- Additionally, the administration led to the arrests of three illegal MS-13 gang members in Florida, wanted for first-degree murder, and another high-ranking member in New York linked to multiple murders.
- ICE arrested over 370 illegal immigrants in Massachusetts, many with serious criminal backgrounds.
PROMISE MADE: “On Day One … We will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” (10/21/24, Concord, NC)
PROMISE KEPT:
- New York Post reported a staggering 655% increase in arrests of terrorists during Trump’s mass deportation raids.
- Since President Trump assumed office, there have been 139,000 deportations.
- In his first 50 days, ICE arrested 32,809 illegal immigrants, many of whom were accused or convicted criminals—nearly matching the total arrests during Biden’s final year.
- NBC News noted a ramp-up in immigration enforcement operations across the nation.
PROMISE MADE: “I will immediately end the Biden border nightmare that traffickers are using to exploit vulnerable women and children.” (7/21/23)
PROMISE KEPT:
- The number of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children has reached a record low.
- At its peak under Biden, unaccompanied minors accounted for 4.6% of illegal crossings. Under Trump, this figure dropped to just 0.4% in early March.
PROMISE MADE: “Under my leadership, we will seal it up and expand that wall until we have total control.” (3/4/23, National Harbor, MD)
PROMISE KEPT:
PROMISE MADE: “You have the gotaways. You know what the gotaways are? It’s the people that don’t want to be looked at at all. So, they’re worse than the people we’re seeing; that’s why they don’t want to be looked at.” (11/3/24, Macon, GA)
PROMISE KEPT:
- Border Czar Tom Homan stated that the daily average of known gotaways dropped from over 1,800 under Biden to just 38 recently.
- Fox News’s Bill Melugin reported that Border Patrol recorded a remarkable decline, with gotaways averaging only 77 over a recent 21-day span.
PROMISE MADE: “I will ban all welfare and federal benefits for illegals, and then they won’t come.” (10/29/24, Allentown, PA)
PROMISE KEPT:
- Trump signed an executive order to ensure that taxpayer resources are not used to support illegal immigration.
- The administration terminated food stamps for illegal immigrants.
- Furthermore, the Trump Administration “clawed back” millions spent on housing illegal aliens in luxury hotels.
- The Department of Education revoked waivers allowing certain colleges to divert federal funds meant for low-income students to illegal immigrants.
PROMISE MADE: “I will end catch-and-release.” (10/12/24, Aurora, CO)
PROMISE KEPT:
- Since assuming office, the Trump Administration has arrested over 150,000 illegal immigrants, deported more than 139,000, and released only nine into the U.S.—a staggering 99.99% decrease from the previous year under Biden.
- New York Post reported that Trump ordered Border Patrol to cease the practice of releasing illegal migrants in the U.S.: ‘Catch and release is ended’.
- The Washington Times confirmed that catch-and-release practices have dropped by 99.99% from the worst month under Biden.
PROMISE MADE: “My administration will deliver justice for every family whose loved one has been stolen from them by migrant crime, including Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, Jocelyn Nungaray, Kayla Hamilton, and every other precious American soul that we have lost to these animals.” (1/19/25, Washington, D.C.)
PROMISE KEPT:
- Fox News reported that Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, marking his first legislative success in the new administration.
- Newsweek featured Laken Riley’s mother expressing gratitude to Trump for not forgetting her daughter.
- The Hill acknowledged the signing of the Laken Riley Act as a significant legislative victory for Trump.
PROMISE MADE: “I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil.” (10/12/24, Aurora, CO)
PROMISE KEPT:
- The White House announced the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act concerning the invasion by Tren De Aragua.
- The New York Times noted that Trump invoked this act to expedite deportations.
PROMISE MADE: “Kamala’s app for illegals will be shut down immediately—within 24 hours.” (10/12/24, Aurora, CO)
PROMISE KEPT:
- NBC News reported that Trump shut down the immigration app, disappointing many hopeful migrants.
- The New York Times confirmed the cessation of the migrant entry app as a signal of Trump’s crackdown.
- Fox News reported that up to 1 million migrants who utilized the app have been ordered to deport by the Trump administration.
PROMISE MADE: “Today, I am announcing a new plan to end all sanctuary cities in North Carolina and across our country… and we will bring down the full weight of the federal government on any jurisdiction that refuses to cooperate.” (9/21/24, Wilmington, NC)
PROMISE KEPT:
- Politico reported that a new executive order targets sanctuary cities, restricting federal aid to undocumented migrants.
- Reuters highlighted that Trump intensified immigration crackdowns, warning officials against noncompliance.
- The Wall Street Journal noted Trump’s plan to cut all federal funding to sanctuary cities.
- Politico reported on Trump’s administration suing New York over its sanctuary policies.
- AP covered the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Chicago in its ongoing crackdown on ‘sanctuary’ cities.
