For over two decades, Stephen Dine from “The Washington Times” has been reporting on border issues, and the current goings-on have left him almost speechless. It’s not easy to surprise someone who’s been around the block as many times as Dine, yet the dramatic shift in border crossings and enforcement policies has done just that. Once upon a time, back in December 2023, Border Patrol apprehended a staggering quarter of a million people. Out of those, approximately 190,000 were promptly released into the wild under the Biden administration’s generous “catch and release” policy. Fast forward a couple of months, and that number plunged to a mere 20 releases, all of whom were in dire medical need. This giant decrease is not just numbers but symbolizes a change in operational doctrine.
The previous administration had its own way of managing border concerns, and clearly, the results are visible. The famed “catch and release” approach effectively transformed into a myth, leaving behind a much stricter enforcement regimen. Thanks to these stricter policies, potential illegal entrants now need to think twice before heading for the promised land. If those brave enough to attempt crossing are now more likely to face detention or deportation rather than a free pass, it’s no wonder the numbers have nosedived. In February, only 8,000 souls dared the crossing, and by March, this figure trickled down to 7,000.
Social media played no minor role, either. In the past, it served as a beacon of hope for prospective border-crossers. The digital age not only makes friends across continents but seems scarcely able to resist encouraging a bit of border-hopping for some. Immigrants once shared snapshots of their successful crossings like tourists at a national park—“Here’s me getting a work permit!” Such triumphant tales spread like wildfire, offering encouragement to others back home. Yet, a robust policy at the border soon extinguished this online enthusiasm.
The last few months have underscored a long-standing debate on how best to handle immigration: Is it new legislation that’s needed, or simply a matter of applying a stronger will? Interestingly, the Trump administration proved that a firm will often does the trick. When a consistent, enforcement-heavy policy is applied, the flow of illegal entries drastically slows. It seems the combination of clear consequences and limited rewards results in reduced attempts at illegal crossings.
So, what should other administrations take from this? Besides doubling down on a policy designed to deter more than it welcomes, showing that a backbone and some stern decision-making can solve a problem as old—and potentially as simple—as border management. Changing the landscape doesn’t necessarily mean rewriting the book, just enforcing the rules that are already there. Sometimes a little willpower goes a long way, and the recent statistics might just be writing on the wall—or should we say, the border.
