Donald Trump was voted into office primarily to enforce border security and to deport millions of migrants who entered the U.S. illegally. Anyone in his administration who believes otherwise or attempts to divert from this core promise is, perhaps, mistaken.
There are several distinctions between Donald Trump and Joe Biden as political leaders, but the most significant differences revolve around how each approaches our country’s immigration laws.
While President Trump has committed to strictly enforcing the law, Biden seems to have aimed at finding ways to sidestep it.
The repercussions of Biden’s lack of enforcement were, well, pretty evident. More than 10 million individuals entered the country illegally.
The crisis began at the southern border and is extending further inland, as these migrants move into major urban centers like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
Within a few years, the presence of illegal migrants became so widespread that all states felt the pressure, which is troubling to say the least.
Biden’s policies have burdened schools, hospitals, and basic services that many Americans rely on, all while many newcomers broke the law upon arrival.
Estimates of the financial burden on U.S. taxpayers vary, but a report from the House Budget Committee last year suggested a staggering figure of $15.07 billion. Balancing the budget has become increasingly difficult for state and local governments, which lack the ability to print money, leading to significant implications.
Yet, beyond financial implications, there are systemic costs associated with neglecting to enforce the law. It’s reminiscent of sociologist James Q. Wilson’s “broken windows” theory—if authorities ignore what seems like small infractions, it can lead to more severe issues down the line.
That’s essentially how things have deteriorated under Biden. His administration has consistently undermined the rule of law across various sectors.
The rule of law eroded further when the Biden administration sought to infringe upon property rights, attempting to prevent landlords from evicting tenants who weren’t paying their rent. This move was, unsurprisingly, struck down by the Supreme Court.
Similar challenges arose with the administration’s effort to erase significant amounts of student loan debt, which also faced legal pushback from the Supreme Court.
In failing to enforce immigration laws, the administration weakened the foundational rule of law as well.
In a system where the rule of law is paramount, all laws need to be followed and upheld.
If political leaders can pick and choose which laws to enforce, the entire system begins to break down. This was a fundamental concern for the nation’s founders.
One of the strengths of the American experiment is its commitment to the rule of law, which is supposed to apply equally to everyone, from the president to the average citizen. Without this principle, the Constitution becomes just a piece of paper, and the credibility of markets dissipates, turning unchecked governmental power into a potential threat.
The rule of law is critical to what America stands for, particularly regarding immigration. The Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test succinctly defines it: “What is the rule of law?” The answers are straightforward—everyone is subject to the law, including the government, and importantly, no one is above the law.
John Adams remarked that we are “a government of laws, not of men.” This was a revolutionary idea in its time and remains so today. Upholding the rule of law distinguishes a constitutional republic from tyranny.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump plans to affirm this during his second term with an executive order focused on enforcement of immigration laws, declaring that this is vital for national security and public safety.
By signing this order, Trump intends to clear away the policies of the previous administration and reaffirm the importance of the rule of law.
Through his efforts to counter Biden’s lack of enforcement, Trump is not just addressing the illegal immigration crisis; he is working systematically to restore the rule of law.
