The border crisis was a big issue during the elections. It’s partly why Trump won.
And now Trump’s been blown away by this Biden-Harris border crisis report.
Biden-Harris Administration Prepares for Potential Migrant Surge Amid Trump’s Election Victory
The Biden-Harris administration is reportedly bracing for a potential migrant surge at the U.S.-Mexico border following President-elect Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the White House in January. According to a report by NBC News, officials have raised concerns about how a Trump victory could influence border security, especially in the final months of the current administration.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas convened a virtual meeting with top officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other advisors on Monday afternoon. During the meeting, discussions centered around the possibility of a migrant surge if Trump wins the election. Officials debated whether such a surge would overwhelm the system, potentially forcing the administration to release migrants into the country.
Although U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have not yet observed a sharp increase in encounters at the border, the meeting considered the real possibility that a Trump victory would trigger a massive wave of illegal migrants attempting to cross before the Republican president-elect officially takes office. ICE and CBP officials were urged to prepare for this scenario, according to the NBC report.
JUST IN: Biden administration is now rushing to handle a potential migrant surge at the border before Trump begins his term (NBC)
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 6, 2024
That possibility gained more credibility after Trump secured enough electoral votes to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Trump has already surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed to win, with 296 votes reported as of Thursday morning. In addition to his electoral victory, Trump was also on track to win the popular vote, with more than 72 million votes tallied so far — making him the first Republican candidate to achieve this since George W. Bush in 2004.
Trump, who made border enforcement a signature issue during his first term, has vowed to take swift action on immigration policy if re-elected. He has promised to implement sweeping deportations and increase crackdowns on illegal immigration. In October, Trump also pledged to create a compensation fund for victims of migrant crime, which would be financed by money seized from migrant gangs, such as the notorious Tren de Aragua.
Under the Biden administration, U.S. immigration authorities have faced record numbers of illegal border crossings. In fiscal years 2023 and 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded the highest number of encounters in history.
However, the administration has made some strides in reducing these numbers in recent months, largely due to cooperation from the Mexican government and new programs aimed at creating alternative pathways for migrants to enter the U.S. legally.
Before the election, many migrants waiting in Mexico voiced their support for a Harris presidency, expressing strong opposition to the prospect of a Trump win. In interviews conducted by Todd Bensman of the Center for Immigration Studies, several migrants explained their disdain for Trump and their preference for Harris.
One Venezuelan migrant, speaking alongside hundreds of others on a highway in southern Mexico, told Bensman, “I love Kamala Harris… Donald Trump, no,” while making a cutting gesture across his neck. Another Ghanaian migrant remarked, “We do not like Donald Trump, because he don’t like us,” adding that Harris was his preferred choice for president.
Migrants interviewed also expressed hope that if Harris were elected, they would be able to enter the United States more easily. “If after Election Day [Harris is elected], we know that everything is good, then we can enter,” another Ghanaian migrant said.
Meanwhile, border-crossing operations on the Mexican side of the border have already begun to prepare for the shift in U.S. political leadership. Gustavo Banda, who runs a shelter for migrants in Tijuana, told NBC News that he expects smugglers, or “coyotes,” to pressure migrants to cross into the U.S. before Trump takes office. “Of course, the coyotes will arrive, they are going to say that they need to get in before Donald Trump arrives,” Banda said, predicting a likely increase in border crossings in the weeks to come.
As the political landscape shifts and the new presidential administration approaches, both U.S. officials and migrants are anticipating significant changes in immigration policy and enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Conservative Column will be keeping an eye on the border situation and reports coming in over the next few weeks.
