The White House celebrated President Trump’s immigration record on Monday with a message highlighting the administration’s claim that migrants apprehended at the southern border are no longer being released into the United States while their cases proceed.
“Zero releases in the last 16 months and record low illegal crossings,” the White House wrote. “President Trump has delivered on his promise to solve Biden’s border disaster. This is what results look like.”
Zero releases in the last 16 months and record low illegal crossings.
President Trump has delivered on his promise to solve Biden’s border disaster. This is what results look like.
https://t.co/HEt1mswgiY
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 12, 2026
Illegal border crossings have fallen sharply during Trump’s second term. The administration has largely replaced the former practice of releasing migrants with notices to appear in immigration court with detention, removal or transfer to other federal custody.
But U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) read another message into the White House’s reference to “zero releases.”
“I saw ‘Zero releases in the last 16 months’ and genuinely thought y’all were bragging on holding back the rest of the Epstein files,” Massie replied.
@WhiteHouse I saw “Zero releases in the last 16 months” and genuinely thought y’all were bragging on holding back the rest of the Epstein files.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 12, 2026
Massie’s joke refers to his continuing dispute with the Trump administration over its handling of government records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Republican congressman co-sponsored the original Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Trump signed into law in November 2025. The law gave the Justice Department 30 days to publish its unclassified Epstein records in a searchable, downloadable format, with limited exceptions intended to protect victims, active investigations and national security.
The law also prohibited the government from withholding or redacting records because their release might cause embarrassment, reputational harm or political damage to a public figure or government official.
Massie says the Justice Department has not complied.
“The Department of Justice continues to unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files that should be released to the public,” Massie said in July. “In addition, the DOJ is unlawfully maintaining heavy redactions on the files it is releasing.”
Attorney General Todd Blanche has defended the department’s compliance with the law.
Massie responded by introducing the Epstein Files Transparency Act II with Democratic Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM). The new bill would allow Epstein survivors, members of Congress, state attorneys general and other authorized state officials to sue the U.S. Attorney General over records they believe are being unlawfully withheld or redacted.
The legislation would also give Epstein survivors access to unredacted records concerning themselves and permit state and local prosecutors to obtain records needed for criminal investigations.
Massie is using a discharge petition to try to bring the bill to the House floor over the objections of Republican leadership. Such petitions require 218 signatures.
“We have 216 signatures for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II discharge petition, but we need 218,” Massie wrote last week. “Two Democrats who were out sick have pledged to sign, but any two Republicans could sign the petition NOW.”
[NOTE: Republican Representatives Nancy Mace (R-SC), Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have joined Massie in signing the petition. The House is not scheduled to return until after the November 3 midterm elections.]