Case for Prioritizing Deportation of Recent Immigrants

Migrants tearing down barrier at border

The American people voted decisively in 2024 to secure the border, with immigration topping concerns for over 40% of Trump supporters (exit polls, Nov 2024). The Trump administration’s mandate, backed by federal authority, prioritizes deporting recent illegal entrants, especially those who breached Border Patrol lines in Texas. This is a lawful and urgent starting point to restore order, given the scale of crossings and the intent behind them.

Point 1: Legal Right to Deport Recent Immigrants, Starting with Texas Breaches

• Federal Authority: Under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution and 8 U.S.C. § 1227, the U.S. government has sole power to enforce immigration laws and deport those present without authorization. The Supreme Court (Arizona v. United States, 2012) reinforces this supremacy.

• Texas Crisis: In 2022-2024, over 2.4 million encounters occurred along the southwest border, with Texas hotspots like Del Rio and Eagle Pass seeing mass breaches—e.g., 15,000 Haitians crossed Del Rio in Sept 2021, overwhelming 1,200 agents. Recent data (DHS, 2025) shows 1.5 million+ post-2024 entries, many evading capture via gaps exploited during Biden’s term.

• Policy Shift: Trump’s Jan 2025 Executive Order 14287 targets "recent illegal entrants" first, with Operation Safe Return deporting 140,000+ since January, including 60% recent crossers. Texas breaches, where agents were outnumbered 10:1 in some sectors, justify starting here to deter future surges.

• Action Call: Prioritize deportation of post-2024 entrants, especially from Texas breach zones, using federal resources (e.g., National Guard perimeters) to bypass local resistance.

Point 2: Accountability for Knowing Law-Breakers Banking on Biden Leniency

• Awareness of Laws: Immigrants crossing illegally (8 U.S.C. § 1325: misdemeanor for first entry) were informed via media, NGOs, and coyote networks. Biden’s 2021-2024 policies—e.g., 1 million+ releases on parole or asylum claims—signaled low enforcement, with only 271,000 deportations in 2023. Many, like Venezuelan caravans, cited open borders as motivation.

• Intentional Violation: Reports (e.g., CBP intel, 2023) show 70% of recent crossers knew of Biden’s catch-and-release, with some discarding IDs to game asylum. This wasn’t ignorance—it was a calculated risk, expecting protection under softer rules.

• Consequence: With Trump’s mandate, those who broke laws knowingly should face swift deportation, not leniency, to uphold legal accountability. Current ops (800+ Chicago arrests since Sept) target this group, aligning with voter intent.

• Action Call: Enforce zero tolerance for post-2024 entrants who exploited Biden-era gaps, expediting cases with clear evidence of intent (e.g., travel patterns, discarded docs).

The U.S. has the legal and democratic right to deport recent illegal immigrants, starting with those who overran Texas Border Patrol. Those who knowingly broke laws, betting on Biden’s leniency, must face consequences to honor the 2024 mandate. Local sanctuary policies should not hinder this federal duty—courts and funding cuts are already addressing that. We urge immediate action to secure the border and restore rule of law.