Key Takeaways:
– President-elect Donald Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan have promised to implement stronger border security initiatives.
– They plan to send more officers onto the streets, targeting sanctuary cities in the process.
– There is uncertainty about the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff to be reassigned.
– Trump is seen as needing to rebuild ICE, which has suffered manpower and funding shortages under Biden’s administration.
– Migrant caravan numbers have reportedly decreased in anticipation of stricter border control.
Trump and Homan’s Strengthened Border Security Plan
In what can only be described as a resolute move, President-elect Donald Trump and his chosen Border Czar, Tom Homan, are determined to tighten the leash on the country’s border security. The duo’s planned approach is a marked departure from open-border practices that were implemented under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s stewardship.
Trump and Homan, flexing their consolidated might, have pledged to dispatch thousands of officers, previously desk-bound, to patrol the streets. Their ultimate objective? To apprehend millions of illegal immigrants who sidestepped the law to enter the United States.
An Uplift for the ICE
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are poised to switch gears – from handling paperwork at their desks to taking on robust, hands-on roles. The federal agency’s total staff pool floats around 21,000, a figure inclusive of non-enforcement personnel who are primarily responsible for administrative work.
While the exact number of staff for deployment remains nebulous, it’s undeniable that Trump and Homan will have to roll up their sleeves to restore the agency’s strength. The present state of ICE, left straitened by manpower and funding deficits under Biden’s tenure, urgently requires rejuvenation.
Sanctuary Cities in Focus
A particular area of concern in this broad-spectrum border crackdown is sanctuary cities. These jurisdictions have been hiding places for illegal immigrants, protecting them from the reach of federal law enforcement. Homan, adopting a no-nonsense attitude, has served notice to these areas. His message? If they can’t assist federal enforcement, they better ‘get out of the way’ as the officers are ‘coming’.
Service gaps, which have been a by-product of Biden’s open-border agenda, are also to be addressed. The ICE currently has several vacancies that the incoming administration is expected to fund and fill.
A Dip in Migrant Caravans
An interesting trend has already emerged even before Trump assumes office. Reports suggest that a 3,000-strong migrant caravan, en route to the U.S. southern border, has halved. This decrease has been attributed to many migrants no longer desiring to make illegal entry attempts.
In Summary
Donald Trump’s first term in office was symbolized by heightened border security. This focus seems to resonate with his second term even before he officially takes office. If the reduced numbers of the migrant caravan are any indication, Trump and Homan’s strict border measures appear to be making an impact.
As an attempt to rescue an agency seen as deficient in resources and workforce morale, the pair’s campaign represents a stern response to Biden’s alleged neglect of national security. Undoubtedly, the incoming administration will have its task cut out, but for now, the resolve is strong, and the goal is clear.