They said it was impossible? What happened? And where is the mainstream media? This is very eye-opening!
For years, Democratic leaders argued that America’s border crisis could only be solved through sweeping legislation passed by Congress. But new data suggests that claim no longer holds up.
Without passing a single major immigration reform bill, President Donald Trump’s enforcement-focused border strategy has driven illegal crossings to their lowest level in more than five decades.
According to U.S. Border Patrol data cited this week by Pew Research, 237,538 migrant encounters were recorded at the southern border in 2025. That figure represents the lowest annual total since 1970, when encounters stood at 201,780 during the Nixon administration.
Border Crossings Collapse Under Enforcement
The dramatic decline stands in sharp contrast to recent years.
Border encounters exceeded 2 million annually in both 2022 and 2023, before dropping to roughly 1.5 million in 2024. The only comparable surge in modern history occurred in 1986, when encounters reached approximately 1.6 million.
By comparison, the current numbers reflect a collapse in illegal crossings that many critics once said was impossible without new federal legislation.
Historically, the lowest border totals ever recorded came during the early 1960s. Under President John F. Kennedy, fewer than 21,000 illegal crossings were logged in each of his three years in office. Outside that brief period, no administration has produced results this dramatic without rewriting immigration law — until now.
Democrats’ Longtime Claims Put to the Test
The sudden turnaround has left many prominent Democrats facing uncomfortable questions, particularly those who spent years arguing that enforcement alone could never work.
Barack Obama
Former President Obama once described the border situation as a “painful reminder” that the system was broken, while also acknowledging that a nation must enforce its borders.
During his presidency, deportations reached levels that many conservatives now point to as evidence that enforcement once enjoyed bipartisan support. Obama even awarded recognition to then–ICE official Tom Homan, who now plays a key role in Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy.
Still, Obama maintained that only comprehensive immigration reform passed by Congress could permanently fix the problem — a position increasingly challenged by today’s data.
Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has long championed comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants.
In past statements, Schumer argued that such legislation was essential to securing the border. Yet the historic drop in crossings has occurred without any new laws — weakening that argument.
Kamala Harris
While campaigning in 2024, Kamala Harris pledged to push Congress toward comprehensive reform and criticized Trump for opposing bipartisan border legislation.
She accused Republicans of politicizing immigration, even as enforcement measures later delivered measurable results. Harris’ office declined to comment on the latest figures.
Richard Durbin
Sen. Richard Durbin, a longtime advocate of the DREAM Act, has repeatedly blamed congressional gridlock for border failures.
More recently, Durbin criticized the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement, accusing it of overreach — despite the steep decline in illegal crossings now being reported.
Nancy Pelosi
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has for years argued that border surges prove the need for sweeping reform, not tougher enforcement.
As recently as 2023, Pelosi accused conservatives of exploiting immigration for political gain, insisting reform was vital to protecting democracy. With crossings now plummeting, Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have offered little public response.
David Trone
Former Maryland congressman David Trone previously dismissed border security concerns as a political distraction, arguing that the U.S. economy needs higher levels of immigration.
He criticized immigration enforcement agencies while continuing to call for reforms Congress has failed to pass for decades.
Alejandro Mayorkas
As Homeland Security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas repeatedly blamed Congress for border failures, insisting the border was secure even as encounters surged into the millions.
The latest Pew data paints a very different picture, suggesting enforcement priorities — not legislative reform — were the decisive factor. Mayorkas did not respond to requests for comment.
Ruben Gallego
Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona acknowledged the drop in crossings as a “win for Arizonans” but continued to push for new laws.
Gallego criticized ICE enforcement tactics and argued Congress must still pass long-term reforms, despite evidence that enforcement alone has already produced historic results.
A Shift That’s Hard to Ignore
For decades, voters were told that border security was impossible without massive legislative overhauls and bipartisan deals.
Now, with illegal crossings at a 55-year low, that claim is increasingly difficult to defend.
As enforcement once again proves effective, the lack of response from many longtime critics has become increasingly noticeable — and politically inconvenient.
