Administration Claims Southern Border “Invasion” Stopped Amid Record Low Migrant Crossings

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum asserted that the Trump administration has effectively halted what he described as an “invasion” at the U.S. southern border, citing sharply reduced migrant crossings and a renewed crackdown on transnational criminal networks.

In a post on X, Burgum stated that under President Donald Trump, “border crossings have hit record lows,” arguing that decisive enforcement policies had reversed years of failed border management.

“This administration has stopped the invasion at our Southern Border, and now we’re stopping the mass casualties caused by Maduro’s criminal network,” Burgum wrote. “The U.S. will no longer allow cartels to make billions while drug trafficking kills hundreds of thousands of Americans. This is America First.”

Burgum’s remarks coincide with the Trump administration’s emphasis on border security as a central pillar of its second-term agenda. Administration officials point to expanded border wall construction, tighter asylum standards, and increased cooperation between federal agencies as key factors behind the decline in illegal crossings. They argue that clear enforcement policies have restored deterrence after years of mixed signals from Washington.

Burgum also linked border enforcement efforts to the fight against fentanyl and other illicit drugs that continue to devastate communities nationwide. He specifically referenced criminal networks tied to Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by U.S. forces on Saturday.

The administration has increasingly framed the drug crisis as a national security issue rather than solely a public health emergency. Federal officials state that drug cartels have generated enormous profits by moving narcotics across the southern border, fueling addiction and overdose deaths. By targeting cartel operations and tightening border controls, the administration claims it can disrupt these revenue streams and save lives.

Supporters of President Trump say the results validate a tough-on-border approach that prioritizes enforcement over what they call “catch-and-release” policies from previous administrations. Critics, however, dispute the administration’s characterizations and warn that aggressive enforcement measures risk humanitarian consequences. They also argue that migration patterns fluctuate due to economic conditions and regional instability.