As the 2024 election looms, Donald Trump and the GOP have pinned their hopes on a single issue: border security. Yet, beneath their rhetoric lies a stark reality obscured by falsehoods and distortions.
Despite boasting of an ironclad border during his tenure, the data paints a different picture—a picture of failure and deceit. While Trump and his party double down on their border narrative, the truth remains undeniable: their claims of unparalleled security are nothing but a mirage.
Trump’s attempt to rewrite history is as audacious as it is deceitful. Contrary to his current narrative, Trump himself acknowledged the border crisis during his presidency, urging Congress to address the issue urgently. However, his calls for action now ring hollow as he contradicts his past pleas, choosing political expediency over genuine solutions.
The numbers speak volumes. Border encounters surged annually under Trump, reaching staggering heights by 2019, far surpassing figures from preceding years. Far from being the epitome of security, his administration witnessed a steady rise in migrant arrivals, culminating in a pandemic year that saw no respite.
But were these numbers truly unprecedented? Hardly. Contrary to Trump’s claims, previous administrations faced lower border encounters across numerous years, debunking the myth of his unparalleled success.
Deportation rates also paint a damning picture. Despite Trump’s tough talk on immigration, his administration fell short, averaging fewer deportations than his predecessors. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has surpassed these figures, underscoring the inadequacy of Trump’s approach.
Moreover, Trump’s legacy includes a staggering release of migrants into the U.S., surpassing even the most lax periods of previous administrations. His failure to address detention capacity exacerbated the problem, leaving the nation grappling with an influx of undocumented migrants.
Upon assuming office, President Biden inherited a crisis years in the making. The backlog of asylum cases and the millions residing in legal limbo underscore the depth of the challenge. Yet, Trump’s simplistic solutions only served to worsen the situation, as experts testify to the futility of his approach.
Instead of confronting the crisis head-on, Trump’s party opts for negligence, slashing funding for immigration courts and exacerbating an already dire situation. With current resources, the prospect of addressing the issue within a reasonable timeframe grows increasingly distant.
In essence, Trump’s failure on the border is emblematic of his presidency—a legacy of empty promises and misplaced priorities. As his party echoes his rhetoric in the present, they too embrace a path of denial and delusion. In the face of hard truths, their narrative crumbles, leaving behind a stark reminder of their deceitful campaign.