House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly acknowledged during a CNBC interview that the southern border is currently secure under President Donald Trump, a notable statement given years of Democratic criticism of Trump-era immigration policies.
During the interview, Jeffries was asked whether he would give Trump credit for the reported drop in illegal border crossings and migrant releases since Trump returned to office in January. Jeffries initially shifted the discussion toward broader immigration reform and concerns about enforcement actions affecting immigrant families. However, when pressed again, he said: “The border is secure. That’s a good thing. It’s happened on his watch. He wants to claim credit for it. Of course, he’ll get credit for that.”
The statement has drawn attention because it appears to recognize the effectiveness of current enforcement policies while also reflecting ongoing partisan disagreement over immigration strategy.
The Trump administration has highlighted recent border enforcement data as evidence of success. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced what they described as 11 consecutive months without migrant releases at the southern border.
According to administration officials, apprehensions and illegal crossings have declined significantly compared with previous years. They say monthly totals at the southwest border have remained below 9,000 for more than a year, attributing the change to stricter enforcement, expanded staffing, technology upgrades, and renewed deterrence measures.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott praised the results, saying America First policies and coordinated federal action had created what he called a “new normal.” Scott previously served as Border Patrol chief and has long supported stronger border enforcement measures.
Policies frequently associated with Trump’s immigration agenda include continued border wall construction, Safe Third Country agreements, and the Remain in Mexico program, which requires certain asylum applicants to remain in Mexico while awaiting court proceedings.
Supporters argue these measures restored operational control of the border and reduced unlawful crossings. Critics counter that enforcement-only approaches do not solve long-term immigration challenges and should be paired with congressional reform of visa systems, asylum law, and workforce needs.
Jeffries’ remarks may signal that some Democrats are willing to acknowledge improved border metrics while still opposing broader Trump immigration policies. Politically, the issue remains highly significant ahead of future elections, as border security consistently ranks among top voter concerns.
