The Trump administration's border security efforts will be in full swing in 2025 because it broke “the law” in court and Republican opposition during Trump's first term, a former official tells Fox News Digital. “I'm prepared for that,'' he predicted during his speech. Part of efforts to secure borders.
Mark Morgan was the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Trump administration and was a key official in building hundreds of miles of border wall and implementing policies such as Remain in Mexico.
He said the Trump administration is likely to repeat the same strategy at the border, pushing for consequences through a combination of illegal entry and immigration deterrents.
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Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump arrive at the Election Night Watch Party on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“More importantly, we're not just reactive. We actually want to stem the flow of illegal immigration and track cartels that bring drugs to our borders. The border should be our last line of defense. This is the same methodology we used in the first Trump administration that resulted in the most secure border in our lifetime. , it's the same strategy.''
But Morgan believes it will be more efficient this time around. During his first term, Trump struggled to overcome Congressional opposition to building a border wall and needed to put structures and procedures in place. His policies led to many cases being filed in the courts.
“We already had a network of tools, powers and policies in place and tested. We knew they worked,” Morgan said. “And just as importantly, they had already gone through a series of legal battles.”
He pointed to the Safe Third Country Agreement and the Remain in Mexico policy as examples. He also pointed out that mass deportations were carried out under the Trump administration and previous administrations.
Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande into El Paso, Texas, are lined up along the border wall waiting to be processed by the Border Patrol. (Helica Martinez/AFP via Getty Images)
“So the statutory authority already exists. The Foundation already exists. We just need to give it a big dose of some kind of government-wide steroids and scale up its operations. Deaf,” he said. Said.
Similarly, over 450 miles of border wall construction has been built under the administration, laying the groundwork for more.
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“We are hopeful that a national state of emergency will be declared, which will give us the opportunity and open up the opportunity to get funding from other resources to get started right away. We don’t have to wait for Congress. .But besides that, we've already been there, right?'' he said. “So we already have the contract, we already have the design, we already have the systems in place, … the materials are already there, everything is going to be deployed exponentially more rapidly. 'Pace. “
He also said he believes Trump's landslide election victory and control of the House and Senate will lead to more action in Washington, D.C.
“Given the overwhelming victory and the level of chaos and the amount of illegal activity that has occurred at the border over the past four years, I think Republicans who have resisted strong border security actions that have remained in the shadows. “I think it will be pushed out of the shadows,” he said. “And I think we have very good goals for permanent legislative change, not just relying on executive orders.”
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He said the bill in Congress could be similar to the House border security bill, known as HR2, but could end up being different to avoid Democratic resistance.
He said it would be inappropriate to speculate on whether Morgan would return to the administration, but added: “When the president calls, there's only one answer.”
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“There's only one person who picks the Cabinet, and that's President Trump. So I think it's misleading to assume that any of us know exactly what those names will be, but we… I don't know that. But look, he asked, I'm capable, I'm willing, I'm ready, and I'm the next administration to get this country back on track and especially protect our borders. I'm really happy to be a part of it.”
