After four years of chaos, President Trump’s border policies are finally generating relief at the Southwest border. In the entire month of June, Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector encountered 895 aliens attempting to cross the border illegally. Compare this to June 2024, when Border Patrol encountered 25,612 illegal aliens in the San Diego Sector. This represents a historic 97% decrease in just one year.
In addition to record low encounters at the border, deportations have ramped up in Southern California, removing violent criminals, rapists, murderers, and gang members from our streets and neighborhoods. Here is a brief rundown of notable criminals apprehended in Southern California since President Trump’s second presidency began:
- Xou Yang, convicted of first-degree murder, was arrested by ICE and removed from our streets.
- Seath Champi, convicted of child abuse and driving under the influence, was arrested by ICE and removed from our streets.
- Marcario Tapia-Hernandez, charged with possession of child pornography, was arrested by ICE and removed from our streets.
- Junior Daniel Calderon Guiterrez, an active member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was arrested by ICE and removed from our streets.
One enforcement action that received significant media attention took place in California, on July 10th. There, ICE arrested 361 illegal aliens and rescued fourteen juveniles illegally working on a marijuana farm. This kind of exploitation was enabled by the reckless policies implemented during the Biden Administration – not just in southern California, but across the Nation. Yet, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom ignored the exploitation of children when publicly criticizing the operation.
These are just some examples of the important work immigration officials are performing in California. Every day, immigration officials work to reduce the likelihood of crime being committed against you and to protect the vulnerable. These deportations eliminate the chance of you, your friend, or your family member being their next victim. With the media frenzy overdrive and protests on the streets of California on a weekly basis, we cannot forget that fact.
Open borders are not kind or humane. They are deceitful and destructive. Due to open borders, our country has experienced an unprecedented surge in crime due to the increase in criminals, terrorists, human traffickers, and gang members who flooded into our country over the past four years. The United States is a nation of law and order, not crime and chaos, as the Biden administration has forced us to become. President Trump is reversing this, and the effects are enormous.
While our border becomes more secure each month under President Trump, the cartels have not given up. Since the ability to smuggle in narcotics and humans by simply walking over the border has been eliminated, smugglers are now forced to think of another way to enter our nation. It is not a surprise new smuggling routes are emerging. Acting San Diego Sector Chief Stalnaker recently stated, “We do anticipate that as we continue to lock down the border here and secure it, we will most likely see a greater increase on the maritime,” which has proven to be true with a 30% increase in seizures of maritime smuggling vessels. These interdictions included hundreds of thousands of pounds of drugs as well as humans attempting to be smuggled into the United States.
The fight is not, and will never be, over. This is why the U.S. must continually invest time and resources on combatting the criminals entering our country, and those already here, like the Trump administration is doing now. Funding through the Big, Beautiful Bill will enable agents to continue their workday-in and day-out, increasing their effectiveness, protecting American citizens, and furthering America’s ability to prosper. A secure border translates to a safe California, and a secure nation.
Mike Garcia serves as chairman of the America First Policy Institute’s California chapter. He previously served in Congress, representing California’s 27th district in northern Los Angeles County.