Americans who have watched Fox News saw something refreshing on January 1: a straight-to-the-point discussion about border numbers that actually back up the administration’s claims that enforcement works. Panelists Jonathan Fahey and Art Del Cueto broke down how crossings have dropped since President Trump returned to the White House, underscoring what hardworking citizens already suspect — secure borders are not impossible when laws are enforced.
The data are unmistakable: irregular migration plunged sharply in 2025, reversing the chaos of the previous year and returning flows to levels not seen in a long time. Independent analysis and government documents show that encounters fell dramatically year over year, with steep percentage drops in the months after the new policies took effect.
Officials and reporting paint a picture of operational success: southwest apprehensions for the calendar year dropped to a fraction of the previous totals, and several months registered zero releases into the interior — not because people don’t try, but because deterrence and swift returns finally mean consequences. That kind of tangible, measurable outcome is what every community wants: fewer illegal crossings, fewer criminal entries, and more respect for the rule of law.
Make no mistake — this didn’t happen by accident. A combination of decisive measures, pressure on Mexico, and a willingness to use every lawful tool at the president’s disposal produced the turnaround. When leaders stop signaling permissiveness and start imposing real costs on smugglers and illegal migration pathways, people stop risking lives and caravans stop packing up.
Conservatives have long argued that enforcement first is the only honest approach to immigration, and these numbers vindicate that commonsense position. Contrast this with the last administration’s open-door incentives that encouraged millions to attempt the journey — the result was predictable: chaos, overwhelmed communities, and strained taxpayer resources. Now that honesty about borders is back, Americans can see what secure policy looks like in action.
There are practical benefits beyond just headlines: border enforcement has improved the government’s ability to interdict drugs, disrupt cartels, and reduce the strain on local services. Law-abiding citizens and law enforcement deserve credit for these results, and policymakers should take note that enforcement coupled with smart diplomacy delivers safety for communities and relief for overstretched cities and counties.
This is a moment for conservatives to press their advantage: demand continued funding, insist on policies that keep deterrence intact, and push Congress to back the men and women on the line. We should not slide back into the old permissive policies that invited disaster; instead, we should double down on what works and make sure the American people never again pay the price for open-border experiments.
