Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump declared that the invasion of the U.S. by illegal immigrants is over in a social media post over the weekend.
The president shared the comments following the announcement of lower illegal border crossing numbers in February.
“The month of February, my first full month in Office, had the LOWEST number of Illegal Immigrants trying to enter our Country in History – BY FAR! There were only 8,326 apprehensions of Illegals by Border Patrol at the U.S. – Mexico Border, all of whom were quickly ejected from our Nation or, when necessary, prosecuted for crimes against the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“This means that very few people came – The Invasion of our Country is OVER. In comparison, under Joe Biden, there were 300,000 Illegals crossing in one month, and virtually ALL of them were released into our Country. Thanks to the Trump Administration Policies, the Border is CLOSED to all Illegal Immigrants. Anyone who tries to illegally enter the U.S.A. will face significant criminal penalties and immediate deportation,” he added.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in late February that arrests of illegal immigrants at the southern border fell to the lowest in 15 years last weekend.
“On Saturday, CBP encountered just 200 aliens at the US Southern Border. That’s the lowest single apprehension day in over 15 years. Thank you to President @realDonaldTrump and our brave men & women of @CBP,” she wrote.
The news follows comments from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller who celebrated a 95 percent reduction in illegal immigrants at the southern border on Thursday.
Earlier in February, the Pentagon deployed 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border, increasing the total to 3,600. Their responsibilities included placing physical barriers, providing transportation and intelligence support, and assisting the U.S. Border Patrol.
In Arizona, Border Patrol agents were reported to be installing concertina wire to strengthen sections of the southern border wall near ports of entry. An additional 14 miles of concertina wire had been added atop both primary and secondary fencing along the Arizona-Mexico border.
The Pentagon also announced that the U.S. and Mexico had agreed to conduct coordinated military patrols on their respective sides of the border, enhance information sharing, and improve communication methods to strengthen border security.
As a result, migrant shelters in Texas, which once housed nearly 1,000 people per day at the peak of the border crisis, were nearly empty earlier this month, with some expected to close.