Staff Reports
A surprising twist in the world of politics has emerged as a longtime critic of President Donald Trump has now chosen to give credit where credit is due: the handling of illegal immigration. Marc Thiessen, a Washington Post columnist known for his opposition to Trump, has taken a notable turn, highlighting the drastic drop in illegal border crossings since Trump’s triumphant return to the White House. The numbers, according to Thiessen, are not just impressive; they’re astonishing.
The latest data shows that during the first month of Trump’s second term, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered a mere 15,700 migrants at the southern border. This figure marks a staggering 94% decline from December 2023, where illegal crossings soared to a record high of 263,900 under President Biden’s watch. Evidently, Trump isn’t just back in office; he’s also back in control of the border—and it shows.
Anti-Trump Washington Post Columnist Flips, Praises POTUS' Swift Action On Key Issuehttps://t.co/iGlgs4akCp
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) February 26, 2025
Thiessen, who previously spun words for President George W. Bush, noted that Trump achieved this migration miracle without needing to wait around for bipartisan legislation. While Biden has moaned about needing a grand legislative solution, Trump utilized executive power to effectively reverse the border crisis within days of his inauguration. It’s almost as if half-hearted attempts at leadership yield half-hearted results.
The downward trend in illegal crossings continued, with a jaw-dropping single-day total of just 200 encounters reported by the Department of Homeland Security. That’s the kind of number that makes one want to pop a bottle of champagne—or at least crack a smile. How did it get this good? Through a series of decisive executive actions, including declaring a national emergency at the border and deploying thousands of troops to assist Border Patrol. Those actions have made it abundantly clear that Trump means business when it comes to border security.
Among his most effective measures was reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which mandates that asylum seekers stay outside the U.S. while their claims are processed—a policy swiftly canned by Biden. Additionally, Trump scrapped the popular “catch and release” system, turning the tide on illegal immigration from a leaky faucet to a solid dam. By pressuring Mexico to send 10,000 National Guard troops to the border, he sent a clear message that America’s borders would not be the playground of illegal immigrants.
In yet another bold move, Trump terminated taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal migrants and classified notorious gangs like MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations. His administration has even ramped up deportations, especially for illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds, highlighting a commitment to law and order—something that was notably absent during the previous administration.
Thiessen underscored the sheer lack of effort from Biden’s team, framing it as a “crisis of choice.” Where Biden saw a tangled web of legislative challenges, Trump saw an opportunity to enforce the law effectively. While Biden’s leadership appears to have led to chaos, Trump’s straightforward actions have presented a clear route to restore order and reclaim America’s identity as a nation welcoming of legal immigrants. It seems it doesn’t take a genius to see that when the will to act is present, success is around the corner.
