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Paul Perez, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, took the stage at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas this week and said what a lot of Americans already suspect: the border is quieter than the chaos years, but the job is far from finished. He used that platform to endorse President Donald Trump, warn that the cartels are evolving, and push for continued funding and legal fixes so we don’t slide back into chaos. It was a blunt, boots‑on‑the‑ground message — and one politicians in Washington should stop treating like an optional footnote.
Perez’s Message from the Dallas Stage
As NBPC President, Perez speaks for thousands of rank‑and‑file Border Patrol agents. On the convention stage he praised recent enforcement gains while making a political point: keep Republicans in charge so the policies that tightened the line are preserved. That is the core of his pitch. He argued the border is “quieter” compared with the record highs a few years back — a claim backed by federal encounter data showing a big drop from the peak. But Perez didn’t sugarcoat the danger: quieter doesn’t mean safe.
Cartels Are Shifting Tactics — Drones and More
Perez warned the cartels have adapted. They are using drones for surveillance, for ferrying contraband, and even against rivals and authorities. This is not sci‑fi. U.S. military and defense reports show the Joint Task Force on the southern border has engaged cartel‑linked unmanned aircraft with high‑energy laser systems. In plain English: criminals went high‑tech, and our forces are meeting them with high‑tech countermeasures. That’s progress, but it’s also proof that the fight is evolving — which means complacency will be punished.
Policy Wins, But Not Time to Relax
Perez pointed to the funding coming from the so‑called One Big Beautiful Bill as reason for cautious optimism. That legislation put serious money into fences, sensors, detection systems and counter‑UAS technology. Fine — money helps. But laws and money without permanent policy changes are like buying a door and leaving it unbolted. Perez urged Congress to codify tougher policies so the next political wind doesn’t undo the work. He’s right: technology can blunt tactics, but only clear law and sustained support will make those gains stick.
Bottom line: Keep the pressure
We can celebrate fewer encounters. We can applaud the lasers and sensors that now push back against cartel drones. But let’s be honest: the cartels adapt, smuggling networks reroute, and the left’s open‑border bromides still have traction in some corners of Washington. Paul Perez used a big stage in Dallas to say what agents on the line have always known — the job isn’t done, and political will matters. Republicans who care about real border security should listen, codify the wins, and keep funding the tech and personnel that protect our country. Anything less is wishful thinking — and a gift to the cartels.
