Here’s what Americans need to know.
The Trump administration is pointing to what it calls a major victory at the U.S. southern border, citing sharply lower illegal crossings and expanded enforcement actions against international criminal organizations.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said recent data shows border encounters have fallen to historic lows under Donald Trump, arguing the numbers reflect a clear shift in federal policy and enforcement priorities.
In a post on X, Burgum said the administration has reversed years of what he described as ineffective border management by restoring deterrence and enforcing existing immigration laws.
“This administration has stopped the chaos at our Southern Border, and now we’re taking action against criminal networks that profit from it,” Burgum wrote. “The United States will no longer allow drug cartels to earn billions while Americans die from fentanyl and other deadly drugs. This is America First policy in action.”
Border security has become a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s second-term agenda, with officials emphasizing enforcement, public safety, and national security.
Administration officials credit the decline in illegal crossings to expanded border wall construction, tighter asylum standards, and increased coordination among federal agencies. They argue that clear enforcement policies have replaced years of mixed messages from Washington, reducing incentives for illegal entry.
Burgum also tied border enforcement directly to the fight against fentanyl and organized crime, issues that continue to impact communities across the country.
He referenced criminal networks connected to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whom U.S. officials say was captured by American forces over the weekend. The administration has increasingly framed cartel activity and drug trafficking as a national security threat, not just a public health concern.
Federal officials say drug cartels have generated massive profits by moving narcotics across the southern border, contributing to addiction, crime, and overdose deaths nationwide. By tightening border controls and targeting cartel leadership and finances, the administration says it aims to disrupt those operations and protect American lives.
Supporters of the president argue the results validate a tougher, enforcement-focused approach, contrasting it with the “catch-and-release” policies they say failed to secure the border in previous years.
Critics, however, question the administration’s claims and caution that strict enforcement measures could have humanitarian consequences. They also note that migration levels can fluctuate due to economic conditions and instability abroad.
Despite the debate, the administration continues to point to falling border encounters as evidence that its policies are delivering measurable results.
