Latest news with #SouthernBorder
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
DAVID MARCUS: How many American lives has Trump's border miracle already saved?
Exact numbers on how many deaths, intentional or otherwise, are caused by illegal immigrants in America are hard to come by, but the tragic killings of people like Laken Riley and so many others at the hands of illegals should make us ask, how many lives has President Trump's secure border already saved? One of life's small cruelties is that when one acts responsibly and strongly, as Trump has here, they tend not to get credit for the bad things that don't happen. But we should make an exception for the miracle of the Rio Grande. What there can be absolutely no doubt about is that, somewhere this weekend at a cookout or a bowling alley, there are people enjoying their friends and family who would not be here but for Trump's border actions. The numbers are simply stunning, almost to the point of Monty Python-level absurdity. In May of 2024, 62,000 illegal migrants were released into the U.S. Last month that number was zero, zilch, nada. Likewise, back when Grandpa Joe Biden was running the show, there were often over 10,000 encounters a day on the southern border, but last Sunday, there were a total of 95, the lowest number ever recorded over 24 hours. To put this in perspective, you could put 95 people in two Waffle House restaurants with room at the counter to spare. It is fair to say that this remarkable closing of the open wound that was flooding our nation with millions of illegal migrants as well as fentanyl and targets of terrorist watchlists, is among the most complete and swiftest handlings of a crisis in American history. If Kamala Harris was in office today, a million illegals could have come in by now. How many gang members? How many rapists? How many deadly doses of fentanyl? Let us not forget how vociferously we were informed that what Trump has done, shutting down the border, was absolutely impossible without acts of Congress. In the giant gumball machine of lies told by the Biden administration, this was among the most stale. It goes back even further than Biden's incompetence. While Trump had surely tamped down illegal immigration in his first term, before that, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, had all failed to get a handle on the situation. Part of the problem years ago, and still an issue in Trump's deportation policies, is that some industries, like farming and hospitality, rely heavily on illegal labor. But given that there are already 10-20 million illegals in America, thanks to Biden, we certainly don't need any more. And the ongoing deportations, which polling consistently shows voters approve of, also play a role in securing the southern border. When one sees people being arrested for jumping the turnstile, it makes them less likely to try it themselves. Deportations turn off the magnet that attracts migrants, and by ending the disastrous catch-and-release policy, Trump has freed our border agents, to actually enforce border security instead of being desk clerks at the Hotel America. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, fentanyl seizures at the southern border are down 50% since November. A huge part of the reason for this is that without the cover of 100,000 illegal migrants a day, smuggling drugs gets much, much harder. Less fentanyl coming into the country means fewer Americans dying of overdoses, a result that surely everyone should cheer. Americans can be forgiven for not quite knowing how to react to such a resounding and total victory as Trump has achieved on the border. We certainly are not used to it, but we would be wise not to take it for granted. With the border closed, a million people self-deporting and violent criminals being taken off the streets and out of the country, there will be fewer grieving parents with children lost to violence, fewer grieving children with parents lost to illegal driving. Just six months into his second stint on Pennsylvania Avenue, Trump's secure border is already making every American, of every party, much, much safer. In 2020, American voters took Trump's first-term hard work on the border for granted, and by electing Biden opened the floodgates to millions. This time, let's understand and appreciate how important a secure border is, and make clear that we are never going back.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
TACO Trump changes course again on immigration raids at certain businesses
One of President Donald Trump's key policy items going into his second term — mass deportations — is expected to change course again in how immigration raids are conducted, according to the Washington Post. A morning field call held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials revealed that agents will continue conducting raids at farms, hotels and restaurants, the Post reported. This reversal comes days after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faced growing pressure from leaders in those industries, the newspaper reported. On Thursday, DHS emailed agents to 'hold on all worksite enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels.' This email went out hours after Trump said he was sympathetic to farmers and hospitality executives concerned over his deportation plans, according to the Post. However, the administration has pressured ICE to raise the number of daily arrests, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller telling ICE in May to increase arrests from 2,000 a day to 3,000 a day. During the 2024 election, Trump said he planned to start 'mass deportations' on 'Day 1″ of his second term. But over the last five months, the number of arrests along the Southern Border has decreased while the number of people held in ICE custody has risen by 25%, TIME reported in June. Trump told the magazine in 2024 that he wanted 15 million people to be deported. While it's likely risen, the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States was last at around 11 million as of 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. 'That's not kooky' major Trump ally breaks with president on former news host G7 countries are 'not big fans' of Donald Trump, new poll says Trump or AOC? Who do Americans prefer? A new poll tells the tale Trump admin asks court to rule against Harvard without a trial Federal funding loss will curtail Tech Hub programs in Holyoke Read the original article on MassLive.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Border czar Tom Homan reveals unprecedented success in Trump's border strategy
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan said the president's leadership has resulted in the most secure border in U.S. history after Border Patrol encountered just 95 illegal immigrants in a single day. "In the last 24 hours the Border Patrol encountered a total of 95 illegal aliens across the entire southern border," Homan posted to X Tuesday night. "That is the lowest number EVER recorded. Compare that to the Biden administration, who surpassed more than 10,000 per day." Homan added the Biden administration released the "vast majority" of the illegal immigrants its border patrol agents encountered back into the U.S. "How many were released under Trump for May?" Homan asked. "Zero." Homan said 62,000 aliens were released in May 2024 under former President Joe Biden. It was the first time a two-digit number was ever recorded at the border. The number of illegal aliens encountered yesterday also shows the border is locked down. Border Patrol officers have told Fox News they are bored because there are few gotaways to chase. "To continue this great work and make it more permanent, we need the Big Beautiful Bill passed so we can finish the job, to include the biggest deportation operation the American people voted for," Homan said in his post on X. "God bless the men and women of [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] and [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. President Trump is the Game Changer!" Homan's numbers highlight a common trend since Trump returned to the Oval Office in January. In April, Homan touted how the administration had released a shockingly low number of illegal immigrants. Homan noted at the time that nine illegal aliens had been released, compared to hundreds, if not thousands, of releases in a single day under under Biden. As for the nine who were released, Homan explained the unusual circumstances. "Four of them were material witnesses in a criminal investigation. We needed them here to testify in a serious criminal trial. Four was extreme medical condition," he said. "We couldn't return them because we were in such bad shape. And one was a humanitarian issue." Fox News reported that, on Dec. 22, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data indicated there were 4,832 illegal immigrants released on that day alone. On that same day, there were just under 9,000 migrant encounters. At the ports of entry, there were 1,400 releases that day as a result of the CBP One app, which has since been changed to the CBP Home app. The CBP One app was a way for people seeking to enter the country to get prompted for the next steps, whereas the CBP Home app is meant for those in the country illegally to self-deport.
Fox News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE deportation efforts could be derailed if Congress doesn't act soon
President Donald Trump took office in January with a mandate from the American people to secure our southern border, enforce our laws, and deport the illegal immigrants already present in this country. By most measures, he is already delivering on that promise. Unfortunately, open borders advocates are trying to stand in the way of the president's agenda by blocking the use of additional detention facilities which they have wrongly labeled as unnecessary, dangerous, and inhumane. As a former acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security, I can tell you that this is a false narrative. The simple truth is that the federal government needs more detention facilities, not less. As of last week, arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during President Trump's second term topped 100,000, and ICE had over 54,000 individuals detained, more than 25% above the 41,000 detention beds funded by Congress. Without more detention facilities, ICE would have no choice but to release detainees, which would present grave dangers to the public. Part of the solution is to maximize the capacity of already existing facilities. Many facilities have more room that could be used, but currently is not, in part, because of limits on detention beds set by Congress. At the same time, the scale of illegal immigration underlines the urgent need for expanded capacity as well. White House Border Czar Tom Homan has asked Congress to fund a record-high 100,000 detention beds. Congress should fulfill that request and exempt ICE facilities from state regulation. Many reporters have presented unverified or unverifiable claims about the "dangers" of immigration detention facilities as if they are facts. They are not. Some "journalists" and op-ed columnists have generalized from anecdotes, while others have implied things that are simply false. But the facts are clear: immigration detention facilities are necessary — and, more often than not, they house public safety and national security threats. ICE prioritizes sending those who pose a threat to public safety to these facilities. The majority of detainees in these detention facilities are convicted criminals. Some Republicans may want tougher immigration policies, and some Democrats may want better conditions for detainees. Congress should consider proposals from both sides. Still, whatever one's views on politics or immigration policy, everyone should agree that now is the time for more detention bed funding, not less — because without more funds, conditions cannot improve for those housed there. Some take umbrage with the fact that the government contracts with private companies, not just state and local officials, to help meet the significant demands for detention beds. This concern is also misplaced. It makes even more sense than usual to use private facilities, as ICE needs to "flex up fast" if it's going to get its deportation numbers up. I would note that administrations from both parties have turned to privately-owned detention facilities and hired private contractors to run government-owned facilities for speed, cost, and experience. While the media may have just begun noticing this now, that doesn't change the fact that these contractors have been doing this work for decades — well before the Trump administration took office. No one is more experienced or qualified to perform this job, and that is exactly what taxpayers should want. Lastly, critics are quick to label these facilities as inhumane. They are far from that. Detention facilities are not prisons, nor are they intended to punish. They are also not meant to be luxury hotels or permanent residences. There are certain standards that facilities are required to meet to secure and fulfill their contracts. The contractors who operate them have highly professional employees, many of whom are veterans, and follow established protocols to manage even the most challenging situations. For example, facilities must provide English-limited detainees with certain translation services. They must provide detainees with food, toiletries and daily opportunities for recreation outside of their rooms, including the use of exercise equipment. Detainees are given free medications as necessary, free medical care that is generally of a much higher quality than they would receive in their own countries, and whether anyone likes it or not, they have access to pro bono legal assistance. Despite a massive influx of illegal immigrants in recent years, detention facilities maintain living standards that are, in many cases, better living conditions than the deportees ever knew in their own countries — and they do so at no expense to the deportee. People are entitled to their own beliefs about immigration policy; however, the law requires the deportation of those here unlawfully. Carrying out this provision of law would be impossible without the use of detention facilities, as has been done humanely and professionally for decades. Given the sheer number of deportable illegal immigrants inside our borders at the moment, we need federal access to more local, state, and private detention facilities. Now is the time to expand their use. Public safety and respect for our laws demand it.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Soldiers on US-Mexico border hunt drones with air defense radars typically used in combat
Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are at the U.S.-Mexico border tracking drones with the same kinds of radar systems that the U.S. funded for Ukraine to help the country counter aerial threats from Russia. The presence of these radar systems on the southern border highlights the proliferation of drones and their use by Mexico-based cartels. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say that the agency's personnel have witnessed reconnaissance drones surveilling border personnel and that the agency 'continues to receive reporting of Mexico-based cartels utilizing armed drones against rival cartels,' a spokesperson for CBP told Task & Purpose. 'Because of this evolving threat, CBP works with the Department [of] Defense to maximize domain awareness for border security and officer safety of all threats, to include armed small unmanned aerial systems (drones). CBP continues to assess that currently, Mexico-based groups utilize drones to fuel intra and inter-cartel violence,' the spokesperson said. The Department of Defense currently has around 8,500 troops supporting the Joint Task Force — Southern Border mission, providing assistance to Customs and Border personnel for logistics, vehicle maintenance, transportation, intelligence analysis, and aviation aerial reconnaissance. A small fraction of those, anywhere from 28 to 34 soldiers who are part of a 10th Mountain Division target acquisition platoon, are manning four radars across 2,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border to detect a growing number of drones that are suspected to be used by Mexico-based cartels. The commander of U.S. Northern Command told Congress in March that there are likely more than 1,000 drones spotted every month along the border. 'Across the border, drone sightings are in the thousands, so it's not unusual for us to see anywhere from 30 to 50 a day,' Maj. Sean Thomas, the 10th Mountain Division's deputy fire support coordinator and the senior effects operations officer for the Joint Task Force — Southern Border mission, told Task & Purpose. Thomas said that their role in providing CBP with air domain awareness, like drone detection and tracking, is 'to protect U.S. territorial integrity and JTF-SB personnel.' Brian Finucane, a senior adviser for the U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group, a non-profit think tank, said deploying combat radar systems is a type of escalation but noted that he's not aware of any drone attacks on U.S. personnel along the border that necessitate sending them as an 'operational necessity.' 'This is a very different sort of scenario than defending U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria from drone attacks or defending Ukraine from Russian drone attacks. We're talking about a very different environment,' Finucane said. 'It has to be seen in the broader context of the administration trying to cast immigration in military or counterterrorism terms — deploying additional troops and other military assets to the border, sending migrants to Guantanamo Bay, using military aircraft for deportation flights, invoking wartime authorities to deport or rendition migrants. This has to be seen in the broader attempt to sort of cast migrations as some sort of wartime emergency.' The radar platoon is tracking and detecting small drones along the border and 'developing a pattern of life analysis.' The radar systems help soldiers identify information like the drones' altitude, speed and size, which they send to local CPB units for awareness. The unit is also doing a more thorough analysis of how the drones are being used and where they're going next, Thomas said. To do this analysis, the platoon is using artillery and air defense radars that have traditionally been used in combat, some of which have even been sent to Ukraine. The radars have long been used to detect enemy artillery, like rockets and mortars, but more recently, the systems are being used in military exercises and training events to track unmanned aerial systems, UAS, or drones. 'The size of the border is unlike anything that a normal division or target acquisition platoon ever looks at and considers, so the variations in terrain and type of operating area is massive and then just the sheer volume,' Thomas said. The platoon is learning more about terrain masking and how the radars work in a range of environments: green terrain, humidity, 5,000 ft mountain elevations, arid deserts and even near larger cities, like San Diego, California or El Paso, Texas. Doing detection near more populated areas, is teaching them more about radar interference, he said. 'There's significant mountains, there's urban population centers that we're as familiar with fighting in or training in so that's been an increase in what we're allowed to do and see,' Thomas said. The platoon operates Lockheed Martin's AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar, which is used in combat to detect rockets, mortars, and artillery. 'The Q-53 is traditionally counter fire or weapons locating radar, so we use those in a defense role so that if somebody fires a missile or artillery shell at us, we'll see where they shot from and where it's gonna land,' Thomas said. Upon arriving at the border, the platoon's radar was upgraded for small UAS detection and tracking 'instead of just a ballistic flight path projectile,' he said. Ukraine received 20 quick reaction radars back in 2015 when Russian-backed separatists began arriving in eastern Ukraine and helped bring down units' casualty rates from 47% to about 18%, Defense News reported in 2019. New contracts for Q-53 radars, $372 million worth, were included in 2023 U.S. military aid packages for Ukraine after its full-scale war with Russia began. Soldiers are also using the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar system which is used for short-range air defense and can detect hostile planes, helicopters, drones or missiles, according to RTX (formerly Raytheon). The difference between using the Sentinel in combat and at the border, Thomas said, is that they're 'purely using this to find and detect' and not linking it to a Stinger missile or another weapons system meant to engage a threat. According to RTX, there are 300 Sentinels deployed around the world by U.S. and allied forces. Social media posts show that Ukrainians have even resorted to using mock-up versions of the American Sentinel system as decoys to deceive Russian forces. The dozens of soldiers who operate the radars hail from field artillery military occupational specialties for the Q-53 quick reaction radar and air defense soldiers on the Q-64 Sentinel. There are also a handful of soldiers who do maintenance and communications support assigned to the platoon. Before heading down to the border, the soldiers took part in live drone tracking exercises at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. But it wasn't the first time that the soldiers encountered drones. Some of the soldiers served in combat teams that were deployed to bases in Iraq and Syria, for Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military's ongoing mission against the Islamic State, but found themselves in the crossfire of regional escalations after Israel declared war on Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, Maj. Rachel Jeffcoat, a spokesperson for the 10th Mountain Division, told Task & Purpose. For months, American troops came under hundreds of rocket, mortar and drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias, including the Tower 22 drone attack in Jordan, which killed three Reserve soldiers and injured over 100 troops. Three of the division's soldiers were recognized for shooting down at least 28 one-way attack drones during their deployment, with each getting five kills to earn 'ace' status. The radar platoon at the border had also practiced flying, tracking and shooting drones down and testing the radar systems in a November exercise at their home base at Fort Drum, New York. 'We constantly provide a home station kind of a training download and update across the division every time one of the brigades comes back of 'hey this is what we're seeing this is the new system we use, this is how it worked,' Thomas said. Navy SEAL Team 6 operator will be the military's new top enlisted leader Veterans receiving disability payments might have been underpaid, IG finds Guam barracks conditions are 'baffling,' Navy admiral says in email Navy fires admiral in charge of unmanned systems office after investigation The Pentagon wants troops to change duty stations less often
