Trump’s Border Policies Show Mixed Results Ahead of 2024 Election
As President Trump settles back into the White House, his administration’s border policies are making headlines, but the results are not quite living up to the lofty promises made during his campaign. While unofficial border crossings have plummeted since his return, the numbers surrounding deportations and arrests reveal a more complicated picture.
In the first 18 days of his new term, Trump’s administration has reported approximately 11,000 arrests, primarily targeting immigrants with serious criminal charges. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt proudly announced that illegal migrant encounters between ports of entry have dropped by nearly 87%. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that around 5,700 individuals were sent back to their home countries during this initial period.
However, the administration’s deportation figures tell a different story. In the two weeks following Inauguration Day, DHS indicated that 5,693 people were deported to 121 different countries. At this rate, the Trump administration is on track to deport just under 150,000 individuals this year. While that number is significant, it falls drastically short of the 11 million deportations Trump promised during his campaign.
For context, former President Joe Biden’s administration deported nearly 49,000 people in November 2024 alone, averaging over 12,000 deportations per week. In total, Biden’s DHS oversaw the removal of 4.5 million individuals, while Barack Obama deported 5.3 million during his two terms. Trump’s previous tenure saw over 2 million deportations, but current figures suggest a slowdown in that momentum.
Frustration is reportedly brewing within the Trump administration over these numbers. Sources indicate that Trump has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up arrests, setting an ambitious quota of 1,500 arrests per day. This move has raised concerns among immigration advocates, who argue that the combination of quotas and a lack of clear enforcement priorities could lead to indiscriminate arrests, affecting not just undocumented immigrants but also U.S. citizens.
Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, expressed her worries about the potential fallout from these policies. She described the current approach as a “toxic brew” that could harm American families and communities. “We fear we haven’t seen the worst yet – Trump’s cruel, chaotic, and costly agenda targets our families, communities, our economy, and the values we hold dear,” she stated.
Despite the mixed results, a recent CBS/YouGov poll shows that a majority of voters—59% to 41%—approve of Trump’s mass deportation plans. This approval could play a crucial role as the 2024 general election approaches, but whether these policies will resonate with voters in the long run remains to be seen.
As the Trump administration continues to navigate its border policies, the impact on both immigrants and American families will be closely watched. With the election looming, the stakes are high, and the results of these policies could shape the political landscape for years to come.
