A Conservative’s Surprising Agreement with Trump on Border Security

It’s rare, but it happens. After scrutinizing President Donald Trump’s policies and actions, I’ve found myself, as a conservative, in agreement with him on one particular issue: his approach to the southern border. While my criticisms of Trump are numerous and well-documented, I believe his actions regarding border security have been an undeniable success during his initial months in office.

Trump has demonstrably tightened security at the southern border, and he has done so without the legislative backing that President Joe Biden claimed was necessary to achieve similar results. It’s important to acknowledge successes, even when they come from those with whom you often disagree. In this instance, Trump deserves credit for addressing a critical issue.

While I commend Trump’s efforts on border security, I must express reservations about his handling of deportations. The administration’s apparent disregard for due process in some deportation cases is a serious concern. We must ensure that all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, are afforded their legal rights.

Nevertheless, when it comes to immigration, Trump has acted swiftly to reverse what he perceives as the shortcomings of the Biden administration. The numbers speak for themselves. Southwest border encounters have decreased significantly, dropping from the final full month of Biden’s presidency to approximately 11,000 in both February and March under Trump.

Although border encounters had been gradually decreasing in the months leading up to Trump’s presidency, the decline had plateaued. Even Biden’s executive actions in June did not produce a dramatic shift comparable to the one witnessed after Trump took office.

A key factor in this shift has been the implementation of policy changes that contradict Biden’s assertion that Congressional action was essential to address the border crisis. While Trump did oppose a bipartisan border bill in 2024 during his reelection campaign, it’s unclear whether that legislation would have effectively addressed the issues at hand.

In fact, the proposed legislation would have limited the president’s authority to seal the border, restricting such action to situations where border encounters reached specific thresholds significantly higher than current levels. Furthermore, the bill failed to tackle the core problem driving the border crisis: the processing of fraudulent asylum claims.

Trump has taken a different approach, heavily restricting asylum access and characterizing the situation at the southern border as an "invasion." He has also increased the military presence along the border, expanded the authority for rapid deportations, and reinstated the "Remain in Mexico" policy from his previous term, requiring migrants awaiting asylum hearings to stay in Mexico.

The significant reduction in border encounters demonstrates that Congressional action was not a prerequisite for improved border security. What was needed was a president willing to take decisive action. The Trump administration has proven that it is possible to control the border through existing executive powers.

Despite these successes, Trump’s deportation policies remain a point of contention. The administration is seemingly attempting to circumvent the law in its pursuit of mass deportations, either by loosely interpreting legislation designed for wartime or by limiting due process for those facing deportation.

While the goal of removing violent criminals from the United States is commendable, these actions have led to legal challenges. The administration’s efforts to circumvent due process and stretch the interpretation of outdated laws are bogging down the process in court, hindering the actual deportations Trump promised.

This is an area where Congress could play a constructive role in assisting Trump, but lawmakers have remained largely absent. These legal battles are unnecessary distractions from the positive changes the administration has made at the border. While addressing the millions of undocumented immigrants in the country is important, it shouldn’t come at the expense of due process.

These legal challenges not only lead to policy setbacks, but they also provide Trump’s opponents, both Democrats and the media, with ammunition to distract from the progress being made at the border. The Trump administration could significantly improve its overall approach by focusing on legal and sustainable solutions to address illegal immigration.

One effective solution would be to increase the number of immigration judges. The current backlog of 3.6 million immigration cases is overwhelming, and the shortage of judges is a major bottleneck. Addressing the backlog and streamlining removal processes would enable the administration to deport more individuals without compromising due process.

Trump should prioritize legal means to address the issue of illegal immigration, rather than undermining the process by defying the courts. A secure border is essential for national security and for ensuring fairness to those who follow the legal pathways to immigration. The Trump administration’s efforts to secure the border are a step in the right direction, but the administration’s hasty and potentially unlawful mass deportation attempts risk undermining these gains.

In conclusion, while I remain critical of many aspects of President Trump’s policies, I must acknowledge his success in securing the southern border. This achievement demonstrates that decisive action can be taken to address the border crisis without the need for new legislation. However, the administration must ensure that its deportation policies comply with due process and avoid unnecessary legal challenges. A balanced approach, combining strong border security measures with respect for the rule of law, is essential for a fair and effective immigration system.

It is crucial to recognize that achieving long-term solutions requires a comprehensive strategy that includes addressing the root causes of migration, strengthening partnerships with neighboring countries, and reforming our legal immigration system. While Trump’s actions have yielded short-term results, sustainable progress will depend on a more nuanced and collaborative approach.