The newly appointed head of the US Border Patrol revealed that illegal border crossings have dropped by an extraordinary 90% since January 21, the day after President Trump was sworn in, the NY Post reports.
Michael Banks, who has extensive experience as a former border agent, highlighted the significant reduction in unlawful crossings during an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” on Thursday. He also mentioned that the agency has seen a 52% increase in prosecutions of criminal migrants it has apprehended.
“US Border Patrol knows how to get the job done, we know how to secure the border. All we needed was a president that was going to empower us — a strong leader like President Trump — and a secretary like Secretary Noem that knows exactly what we need to do to secure the border,” he remarked.
Although Banks did not offer specific numbers on illegal crossings or clarify the reference point for the comparison, figures released on Thursday by the Texas Department of Public Safety show a dramatic decrease in crossings into Texas, now nearing almost nothing.
On February 5, just 396 illegal migrants were apprehended across the once-busy border sectors of El Paso, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, and Big Bend in the southwest.
Under the Biden administration, Del Rio alone experienced thousands of daily illegal crossings, including a surge in September 2021 when over 14,000 Haitian migrants crossed in just a few days.
Recent data from The Post indicates a 500% decrease in the number of migrants in US Customs and Border Patrol custody compared to the summer months.
Currently, only about 1,500 illegal immigrants are in custody, a stark contrast to June when the number was over 10,000.
This dramatic reduction in attempted illegal entries into the US is attributed directly to the enforcement policies enacted by the Trump administration, as confirmed by the data and corroborated by agents working in the field.
“No other President has ever enforced our nation’s borders like President Trump,” one Border Patrol agent told The Post.
“The law is finally being enforced once again,” another agent added.
“Catch and release is over and smugglers are being forced to figure out new ways to get people in,” the agent concluded.
President Trump has also carried out large-scale deportation operations in progressive sanctuary cities, including New York City, following his return to the White House.
The crackdown resulted in over 7,200 illegal migrants being apprehended nationwide in just the first nine days, according to officials.
“I think because of the deportation flights. It only takes a few to get back to know they won’t get let go anymore,” another Border Patrol agent explained.
“They knew the law wasn’t being enforced. Now, they know this administration wasn’t just talking. There are consequences.”
In New York City, which became a focal point of the national crisis under the Biden administration, the number of migrants arriving has dropped sharply.
City data indicates that only 200 migrants entered the shelter system last week, a stark contrast to the 600 who arrived during the week of the presidential election in November.
As of last week, there were 46,000 migrants residing in New York City’s taxpayer-funded shelters, a decrease of 12,000 compared to the election week in November.
Banks, who previously served as Texas’ border czar, addressed rumors on Thursday about the federal government targeting “abuelas” (grandmothers) and families instead of criminals.
“It’s just nonsense. It’s rhetoric that we’re targeting … school buses and children. It’s absurd. And if you want to talk about abuelas, my abuela is a naturalized citizen from Mexico,” he said.
“We’re certainly not targeting abuelas, we’re not targeting people who are in this country legally and don’t have the authority to go after someone who’s in this country legally,” he continued.
“We’re targeting criminals, and those who have broken the law by entering the country illegally.”
{Matzav.com}
