Trump Initiates Harsh Enforcement Against American 'Sanctuary Cities' over Migrant Issue
The Republican Herald:
Trump Claims Triumph in Cracking Down on Illegal Border Crossings
In a bid to highlight his election campaign pledges, President Trump has declared significant progress in stemming the surge of unauthorized border crossings from Mexico. According to Trump, these incursions soared to record highs during his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden's tenure.
In an upcoming address, Trump is expected to celebrate his accomplishments in various domains, including the economy, foreign policy, governments efficiency, and, most notably, border control.
However, Trump's popularity has taken a hit since January, with over 40% of Americans expressing strong disapproval of him, as per The Washington Post-ABC poll.
Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, reported a 95% reduction in encounters with undocumented migrants at the Mexico border, from 140,000 to 7,000, during the 12-month period from March 2024 under Biden's administration.
Leavitt hailed Trump as the savior of America's borders, stating, "President Trump has restored order, enforced our immigration laws, and safeguarded America's sovereignty."
Trump's rheoric regarding tackling the purported horde of criminals stirred American voters' concerns over illegal immigration during his campaign.
Targeting Sanctuary Cities
Monday's executive order dives into "sanctuary cities" that typically forbid local authorities from disclosing information about undocumented immigrants to federal agents, potentially leading to deportation.
Municipal leaders from Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City were previously quizzed about their immigration policies during a heated Congress hearing in March.
The courts have validated the legitimacy of sanctuary laws, and a recent US court ruling barred Trump's administration from withholding federal funds from authorities offering protection to undocumented migrants.
On Monday, placards covered the White House lawn displaying the mugshots of alleged criminals, many of whom were undocumented immigrants facing charges ranging from first-degree murder to distribution of fentanyl.
The White House press release also provided a list of 100 individuals charged as the "most heinous criminal illegal immigrants" arrested since Trump assumed office.
Meanwhile, House Republicans have drafted a bill to grant Trump sweeping powers to enforce immigration charges, including a minimum $1,000 fee for asylum applications.
Trump also deployed troops to the Mexican border and classified Latin American gangs, such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as terrorist organizations.
However, Trump's efforts have come under fire from judges, rights groups, and Democrats, who accuse him of disregarding constitutional rights during the hasty deportation of migrants without proper hearing.
Tom Homan, Trump's border security chief, declared, "We have the most secure border in the nation's history," during a press briefing. When probed about deportation rates, Homan sustained that comparisons were invalid due to differences in methodology.
Ironically, the administration appears on track to deport around half a million people this year, barely meeting the 685,000 deportations recorded during fiscal year 2024 under Biden's administration.
[1] https://truthanddata.com/our-work/reports/trumps-border-wall-impacts-official-statistics-show-no-clear-impact/[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/15/trump-border-arrests-alltime-low-386650[3] https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/29/politics/trump-border-wall-construction-cdc/index.html[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/migrant-caravans-dropping-darién-gap-border-crossings-surge-us-lawmakers-trump-n1256706[5] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mexico-border-apprehensions-hit-lowest-level-in-40-years/
- Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, commended Trump for his efforts in reducing encounters with undocumented migrants at the Mexico border, stating that there was a 95% reduction from 140,000 to 7,000 during the 12-month period from March 2024, under Biden's administration.
- In a general-news context, Trump has disapproved of sanctuary cities that typically forbid local authorities from disclosing information about undocumented immigrants to federal agents, which could potentially lead to deportation.
- Despite Trump's claims of success in border control, his popularity has decreased significantly since January, with over 40% of Americans expressing strong disapproval of him, according to The Washington Post-ABC poll.
- In the realm of politics, especially regarding immigration, Trump's hardline approach to tackling alleged criminals among undocumented immigrants, as well as his efforts to enforce immigration laws, has been a contentious topic, attracting criticism from judges, rights groups, and Democrats.
