Trump has been pushing to secure the border. Now we have the results.
Because Homeland Security announced shocking news from the Southern Border.
Migrant Turnbacks Reflect Border Policy Success
In a striking testament to President Trump’s border enforcement, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed senators that as many as 600,000 migrants heading toward the U.S. turned back after learning of the administration’s border closure.
This figure, sourced from Mexican officials, highlights a sharp decline in migration attempts. “They got the message clearly,” Noem said. “When they were on the way, they heard that and they went back home.”
Noem emphasized that the 95% drop in detected illegal border crossings compared to the previous year demonstrates the efficacy of Trump’s policies.
She pointed to data from a migrant shelter in northern Mexico, which, despite a capacity of 1,300, housed only 31 people last month, according to The World, a public radio program. This near-empty facility highlights the reduced migrant flow, Noem argued.
Senate Hearing Exposes Political Divide
During her testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Noem framed the migrant turnbacks as a key measure of Trump’s border achievements, earning praise from Latin American leaders who have noted diminished migration flows.
She urged Congress to allocate more funds to sustain and expand these efforts, hinting at even more ambitious plans to secure U.S. borders. Noem asserted that the administration is nearing “operational control” of the border, deterring migrants from even attempting the journey.
However, Democrats sharply criticized the administration’s methods. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, accused Noem of relying on “draconian measures,” stating, “The primary reason those encounters are down is you are brazenly violating the law every hour of every day.”
Murphy, a key figure in last year’s Senate border deal, argued that the Biden-Harris administration had deemed such legislation essential to address prior border chaos. Noem countered that Trump’s success, achieved without new laws, proved the effectiveness of existing presidential authority.
Deportation Dispute Sparks Heated Exchange
The hearing also zeroed in on the contentious case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13 gang suspect deported to El Salvador’s terrorism prison in March. Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, pressed Noem on her refusal to reconsider his case, with Van Hollen insisting, “I’m not vouching for the man. I’m vouching for his due process.”
He questioned the evidence tying Abrego Garcia to gang activity, citing a recent trip to El Salvador to advocate for his return.
Noem fiercely defended the deportation, labeling Abrego Garcia a “human smuggler” and “wife beater.” She rebuked Van Hollen, stating, “Your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming.”
Noem made it clear that the Salvadoran citizen would not be allowed back, declaring, “There is no scenario where Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again.”
She added that any attempt to return would result in immediate re-deportation, reinforcing the administration’s hardline stance on deporting non-citizens with criminal ties.
