This is the news the president was desperate to hear. This could change everything about his term moving forward.
And Border Patrol has delivered Trump a report that has him grinning ear to ear.
Border Patrol Morale Soars Under Trump
The U.S. Border Patrol is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in spirit and effectiveness, according to Chief Mike Banks. In a recent interview on “America’s Newsroom,” Banks shared his enthusiasm, stating, “We’ve had the handcuffs taken off” and “we’re allowed to actually do our job, which is go out and enforce the law.”
This newfound freedom to uphold immigration laws has ignited a wave of optimism among agents, with Banks noting, “Under this administration, they have literally taken the handcuffs off and allowed us to enforce law instead of policies that were created to contradict the law and so our morale has continued to rise.”
A recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) report highlights the tangible impact of this shift. In March, apprehensions at the southern border plummeted, with fewer migrants detained in the entire month than in just the first two days of March 2024 under the previous administration. This stark contrast reflects the decisive actions taken by President Donald Trump since assuming office in January.
His administration has implemented sweeping changes, including ending birthright citizenship, halting refugee admissions, discontinuing an app used for humanitarian parole at the border, and restarting construction of the border wall.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised these efforts, stating, “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Border Patrol agents are now back to doing the jobs they signed up for: securing the border, rather than serving as travel agents for illegal aliens.”
She pointed to a Los Angeles Times article that captured the dramatic change, with the headline reading, “California, Mexico border, once overwhelmed, is now nearly empty with so few migrants coming into the U.S.” The article noted, “shelters that once served migrants have completely closed,” underscoring the effectiveness of the new policies.
The revitalized Border Patrol is also seeing a surge in recruitment and retention. Banks reported that recruiting is “looking great,” with the agency witnessing “some of our highest numbers ever.” He contrasted this with the challenges faced during the prior four years, when “we saw a mass exodus from the Border Patrol and we saw some of our lowest recruiting numbers.” Now, agents are so inspired that some are withdrawing retirement plans to continue serving, a testament to the renewed sense of purpose within the agency.
In Eagle Pass, Texas, once a hotspot for migrant crossings, the transformation is striking. Banks recalled days when the area saw “an average of three to four thousand [apprehensions] a day.”
Today, that number has dwindled to “an average of 18 apprehensions a day and very few gotaways, little to none. Some days zero gotaways,” he said, highlighting the dramatic decline in illegal crossings.
Overwhelmed Under Biden: A Look Back
The challenges faced by the Border Patrol under the Biden administration were immense, driven by policies that critics argue encouraged a surge in illegal immigration. From 2021 to 2024, the southern border saw unprecedented numbers of migrant arrivals, overwhelming agents and resources.
The CBP reported record-high apprehensions, with millions of encounters logged annually, including significant numbers of unaccompanied minors and family units. Policies such as the relaxation of enforcement measures, the reinstatement of “catch and release,” and the expansion of humanitarian parole programs were seen as signals to migrants that entry into the U.S. was more attainable.
In areas like Eagle Pass, Border Patrol agents were stretched thin, processing thousands of migrants daily while struggling to maintain security. The sheer volume of crossings led to overcrowded facilities, with temporary holding centers often exceeding capacity.
The Biden administration’s decision to halt border wall construction and scale back deportations further strained the agency, as “gotaways”—migrants who evaded apprehension—surged, complicating efforts to track and manage illegal entries.
The toll on morale was significant. Many agents felt constrained by policies that seemed to prioritize processing over enforcement, leading to frustration and burnout. The mass exodus Banks referenced was driven by these conditions, as seasoned agents left the force and recruitment struggled to attract new talent. By 2024, the Border Patrol was grappling with a workforce crisis, unable to keep pace with the demands of an overwhelmed border.
The contrast with today’s revitalized Border Patrol emphasizes the impact of policy shifts. Under Trump’s leadership, agents are once again empowered to secure the border, restoring their sense of mission and drawing new recruits to the ranks. As the agency rebuilds, the lessons of the past highlight the critical role of clear, enforcement-focused policies in managing one of the nation’s most complex challenges.
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