Law and Order Triumphs in Trump’s Immigration Overhaul
Illegal border crossings drop to almost none, with California raids and self-deportation options expanding.
The Trump administration has revitalized America's immigration system, rediscovering the rule of law along the border and in the states. Illegal border crossings have plummeted, with Border Czar Tom Homan noting that there were only 229 Border Patrol encounters on the southwest border in early 2025, compared to 11,000 per day under the previous administration. "President Trump campaigned on a safe border and is delivering it," Homan said. These kinds of policies preserve sovereignty, deter illegal entries, and disrupt cartels, making borders accountable to the law.
The rule of law requires enforcement, but loose enforcement has eroded confidence in it. Millions and millions of illegal aliens, not a handful in California, strain resources and displace lawful immigrants who undergo costly, time-consuming procedures. These good-faith seekers are victims, competing against those who take shortcuts. Enforcement restores balance to them.
America is a nation with a glorious heritage of welcoming immigrants, more enriched by those who enter the country lawfully, enriching our economy and culture. We applaud their positive influence, but there is a distinction between legal immigration and arriving in the country clandestinely. We cannot welcome arrivals whose initial act is a violation of our laws, for this undermines fairness.
In California, ICE targets illegal aliens who are engaging in criminal behavior such as theft or gang violence. Los Angeles raids in May 2025 arrested an Iranian national tied to $83 million in Amazon thefts and over a dozen gang members. Homan's plan to double ICE agents challenges California's sanctuary policies, which shield lawbreakers. The left's sanctuary state law defies federal authority, but Homan insists enforcement must eventually include all illegal aliens. "If you're here illegally, you've got a problem," he said.
Central District of California U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli is leading "Operation Guardian Angel," resulting in 347 illegal re-entry charges since April 2025, compared to 17 over the previous two years. His program uses federal warrants to bypass local opposition, targeting criminal illegal aliens in jails with daily database sweeps.
The DHS's CBP Home App, released in March 2025 at www.cbp.gov, offers voluntary deportation with travel arrangements and a $1,000 incentive, permitting a dignified return without legal repercussions. From January 20 to March 2025 (the most recent statistics available), ICE arrests surged 137%, with 32,809 aliens, including 14,111 convicted criminals, apprehended, reflecting intensified enforcement efforts.
The proposed One Big Beautiful Bill would fund 10,000 more ICE agents and hold 100,000 illegal aliens per day, which would enable one million deportations annually to cover all illegal aliens and then prioritize law-abiding immigrants.
The administration's approach is divergent from California policies that protect those who violate our laws. Fidelity to the law safeguards communities and honors legal immigrants. We have a lot to accomplish, but it's a great start.