Retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem starkly contrasts the current historic lows in illegal crossings and a full fiscal year without migrant releases under President Trump’s crackdown with the overwhelming chaos experienced during the Biden administration. Clem recalled the December 2021 surge when migrants flooded through agricultural fields, towns, and even knocked on residents’ doors at all hours, overwhelming agents who struggled to pick them up fast enough. Preliminary DHS figures reveal a staggering 95% drop in southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026 compared to the Biden-era annual average, translating to about 270 daily apprehensions versus 5,000. This dramatic shift is attributed to stronger enforcement, the prospect of deportation, and robust interior enforcement by ICE, which has also seen record deportation numbers. Clem, however, warns that these gains are vulnerable to policy shifts and political changes, emphasizing that clear, consistent enforcement is crucial to dismantle smuggling organizations’ promises of release and ensure border security remains paramount, regardless of broader immigration debates.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
