President Donald Trump has declared a national border emergency, citing an “attack on America’s sovereignty” despite a dramatic decline in illegal border crossings in recent months.
His administration has already deployed 1,500 active-duty military personnel to San Diego and El Paso, signaling a renewed crackdown on illegal immigration.
While border arrests have dropped by more than 80% since last year, Trump argues that more aggressive action is needed to fully secure the border.
His emergency declaration raises questions about funding for detention and deportation, particularly regarding migrants from countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba that refuse to accept deportees.
Illegal Border Crossings Drop Dramatically
U.S. Border Patrol data shows that arrests for illegal border crossings fell to 47,000 in December 2023, compared to 250,000 in December 2022. This marks an 80% decrease, with two key factors contributing to the drop:
- Stronger Enforcement by Mexico – A year ago, Mexico increased its own border security, significantly reducing migrant flows into the U.S.
- Biden-Era Asylum Restrictions – In June 2023, former President Joe Biden imposed new limits on asylum claims, which further deterred migrants from crossing illegally.
By the time Trump assumed office, border arrests had already reached their lowest levels in over four years, but he insists the situation remains a national crisis.
Border Patrol Returns to Traditional Enforcement
During the Biden administration, border agents were overwhelmed processing and releasing asylum-seekers. Now, under Trump, they have returned to a more traditional role—tracking smaller groups of migrants attempting to evade capture.
On Thursday, the Associated Press joined Border Patrol agents in San Diego, the busiest border crossing corridor in the past year. Over a six-hour period, no migrants were spotted until the final 30 minutes when:
- Three Chinese men and one Malaysian crossed through a gap in the border wall and surrendered.
- A group of eight Indians and one Nepali also turned themselves in.
These migrants were taken to processing tents set up during Biden’s presidency. Their fate remains unclear, but deporting individuals from distant countries remains a costly and complex challenge for the Trump administration.
Challenges in Deportation Efforts
One of Trump’s biggest hurdles in enforcing stricter immigration policies is the high cost and logistical difficulty of deporting migrants from distant nations.
- Venezuela and Nicaragua refuse to accept deportations of their citizens.
- Cuba allows only limited deportation flights.
- China and India are slow to process returns, complicating efforts to remove unauthorized migrants from these countries.
Trump may resort to emergency funding measures, as he did during his first term, diverting billions from the Defense Department to finance border operations.
San Diego and Arizona See Sharp Decline in Migrant Arrivals
In San Diego, where migrant arrivals once peaked at 1,400 per day, recent numbers have dropped significantly.
- The last week of Biden’s presidency saw daily arrests fall to 236 per day.
- On Wednesday, January 24, only 136 migrants were apprehended.
Humanitarian groups have also reported a drastic drop in activity:
- Jewish Family Service of San Diego reported that its shelter had not received any migrants since Trump ended the use of the CBP One app, which allowed asylum-seekers to schedule legal entry appointments.
- Pima County, Arizona, announced the closure of two migrant shelters in Tucson after federal agencies stopped releasing people there.
Impact on Migrant Aid Organizations
With fewer asylum-seekers being processed and released, aid groups that once provided food, shelter, and medical care to migrants are facing significant reductions in activity.
Karen Parker, a volunteer providing medical aid to migrants in remote mountain areas east of San Diego, said she previously encountered 600 to 800 migrants per night. Now, she sees only occasional small groups of 40 or fewer.
Trump’s Emergency Declaration and Future Plans
Trump’s border emergency declaration outlines his plan to completely stop illegal crossings and strengthen enforcement measures.
His executive order states:
“To protect the security and safety of United States citizens, to protect each of the states against invasion, and to uphold my duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, it is my responsibility as President to ensure that the illegal entry of aliens into the United States via the southern border be immediately and entirely stopped.”
Trump has hinted at reinstating aggressive border policies, including:
- Mass deportations despite diplomatic challenges.
- Expanding detention capacity to prevent quick releases.
- Restricting asylum claims further.
- Increasing military presence at the border.
His administration may also reallocate funds from other government programs to finance new border initiatives.
Despite a sharp decline in illegal border crossings, Trump has declared a national border emergency, arguing that a full crackdown is still necessary.
His administration has deployed military personnel, restricted legal entry methods, and halted migrant releases, marking a dramatic shift in border enforcement.
However, significant challenges remain, including diplomatic hurdles in deporting migrants, funding detention facilities, and managing legal battles over his new policies. The coming months will determine how effectively Trump’s administration can implement its border security agenda.