Trump Highlights Immigration Enforcement in State of the Union
During his State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump emphasized the achievements of his administration regarding immigration enforcement, all while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown was entering its 11th day.
He described the prior year as a significant “turnaround” for the United States, claiming that under the former administration, “11,888 murderers” had been allowed into the country.
Trump proclaimed, “After four years of millions of illegal aliens streaming across our border, completely unscrutinized and unchecked, we now have the strongest and most secure border in American history. For the past nine months, zero illegals have been admitted.” He added, however, that lawful entry would still be permitted for individuals who genuinely love the country and work hard.
In his first year back in office, ICE has reportedly increased its workforce by hiring 12,000 additional officers and agents. It’s estimated that about 3 million unauthorized individuals are in the U.S., with around 2.2 million having left voluntarily and 675,000 having been deported.
Trump also referenced a tragic incident involving Sara Beckstrom, a young National Guard soldier who was allegedly killed in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan individual allowed into the U.S. during President Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Additionally, he mentioned Dalila Coleman, a child who sustained serious injuries due to a multi-vehicle accident caused by an undocumented truck driver, urging Congress to pass “Dalila’s Law,” which would prohibit states from granting commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
He criticized the current state of the Democratic Party during the DHS shutdown, asserting, “Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding to the Department of Homeland Security. Now they have shut down the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers. Tonight, I demand the full and immediate restoration of all funding to Border Security, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
Trump insisted on the need for lawmakers to prioritize the safety of Americans: “The first duty of the United States government is to protect Americans, not illegal aliens.” While many Republicans stood to show support, most Democrats remained seated. In response, Trump remarked, “You should be ashamed of yourself,” addressing those who did not stand. He also urged the passage of the SAVE America Act to end what he referred to as “deadly sanctuary cities” and to prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections.
The DHS previously criticized Democratic lawmakers for causing multiple shutdowns affecting the agency. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned that this was the third shutdown instigated by Democrats during the current Congress, highlighting the negative repercussions for national security.
Democrats have called for reforms concerning ICE, and negotiations aimed at resolving the government shutdown seem to have hit a roadblock. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed concerns regarding current immigration practices, advocating for significant reforms.
