The Trump Effect? Illegal Crossings Plummet
Migrants head south after security is tightened north of the US-Mexico Border
There is encouraging news this week about illegal immigration trends along the US southern Border with Mexico - as well as Mexico's Southern Border with Guatemala. Let's begin there - where US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks says, "verified reports confirming a new trend: migrants (are) choosing to return home rather than continue north due to increased border security (in the US)."
"These individuals cited the heavy security posture along the U.S.-Mexico border and Mexico’s containment efforts as key reasons for reversing course. Families in these groups made a life-saving decision, avoiding the dangers of cartel-controlled territory, where extortion and violence are rampant. Our enforcement efforts are working." -US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks (Feb. 10, 2025)
More evidence that migrants are "turning back south" rather than trying to illegally cross into the US can be found in the latest numbers of illegal border crossings reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Where many thousands of migrants were once illegally entering Texas daily - the DPS says those numbers are now down to a few hundred:
The Border Patrol Chief says that's a trend his agents are seeing along the entire US Southern Border with Mexico - a huge decrease in the numbers of migrants now trying to illegally cross into the United States:
"What a difference a year makes! USBP apprehensions decreased by 91% from the same 7-day period last year. This sharp decline reflects real progress in securing our borders and enforcing the law.
By stopping the flow at the border, we also streamline the removal of illegal entrants already in the country, reinforcing the integrity of our immigration system." -US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks (Feb. 7, 2025)
The sharp drop in the number of migrants crossing is exposing large groups the cartels once easily moved north of the border to increased enforcement efforts by US authorities:
That is resulting in some huge human smuggling busts. For example, in the space of a few days, US Border Patrol Agents, along with the US Coast Guard, recently seized more than eight boats piloted by human smugglers and apprehended more than 80 migrants one of the cartels was attempting to illegally move into the country off the coast of San Diego.
During another recent joint patrol off the Southern California Coast, US Customs & Border Protection Officers - along with Coast Guardsmen - boarded two suspicious boats and apprehended another thirty migrants one of the cartels were smuggling into the Golden State.
In Laredo, a Border Patrol Boat Unit reports recently turning back a group of twenty migrants on the Rio Grande cartel “guides” were attempting to move from Mexico into Texas.
Back in San Diego, the Coast Guard and US Customs & Border Protection Agents this week intercepted a 25-foot sailboat 12 miles off the California Coast, attempting to smuggle 12 Mexicans into the US.
In El Paso, Border Patrol Agents broke up a human smuggling attempt with the apprehension of eight illegal aliens from Mexico, Ecuador, and Guatemala, along with four cartel smugglers inside a hotel.
While back in Laredo, Border Patrol Agents stopped a stolen pick-up truck and discovered 10 Mexican and Guatemalan migrants who had illegally crossed into Texas from Mexico and were attempting to head further north into the state.
All of these apprehensions, following the sudden drop in overall attempts by migrants to illegally cross the country after President Trump took office, prompted the New York Post to publish the following front page:
Will these latest positive security trends along the US-Mexico border last?
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
