Trump Signs Executive Order To Tighten Border Even More
It is remarkable how the words of a strong American president can resolve numerous challenges.
Following four years that many consider to have had the weakest border policies in U.S. history—resulting in record levels of crossings at the Southern border—President Donald Trump has dramatically altered the situation.
According to Customs and Border Protection data, the number of border crossings has plummeted by an astonishing 90 percent compared to the same time last year. As the New York Post reported, only 359 illegal migrants are being processed per day.
“That puts the US on track to have the lowest monthly border crossings in at least 25 years. If the trend continues, the number of illegal migrants coming into the US could hit a level not seen since 1968, nearly 60 years ago,” the report stated.
And Trump is showing no signs of stopping.
The president has enacted a new executive order titled “Amendment to duties to address the flow of illicit drugs across our southern border.”
The White House issued the following statement regarding the order:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:
Section 1. Background. Automotive production plays a significant role in U.S. employment and innovation and is vital to both economic and national security. The American automotive industry frequently moves large quantities of parts and components across borders to streamline supply chains in North America. To limit disruptions within the industry and protect automotive workers, it is necessary to adjust tariffs placed on Mexican goods under Executive Order 14194 of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border).
Sec. 2. Product Coverage. (a) Articles that enter duty-free as goods of Mexico under general note 11 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), including classifications in subchapter XXIII of chapter 98 and subchapter XXII of chapter 99 of the HTSUS as related to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, shall not be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty outlined in section 2(a) of Executive Order 14194. (b) The additional duty rate on potash, which does not fall under subsection (a), shall be reduced to 10 percent instead of 25 percent. (c) These modifications will take effect for goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 7, 2025.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to diminish or otherwise affect: (i) the legal authority granted to an executive department, agency, or their respective leaders; or (ii) the responsibilities of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget regarding budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be carried out in accordance with applicable law and subject to funding availability. (c) This order does not create or provide any legally enforceable right or benefit, whether substantive or procedural, against the United States, its agencies, employees, or any other individual.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, told The Post that border crossings have dropped to levels not seen “in almost a lifetime.”
“If you kind of break down the numbers, divide them by 365, we haven’t had numbers this low since the 1960s. So we’re talking 60-year lows if it’s sustained, obviously,” he stated.
As of February 11, only 3,953 illegal migrants had been encountered at the Southern border. If this trend continues, the total for the month would be around 10,000—an unprecedented achievement since CBP began recording such data in 1999.
Interestingly, the closest the number has ever come to 10,000 was in April 2017, during Trump’s first term, when monthly crossings hovered just above 11,000, the report noted.
A Border Patrol insider shared that the difference in leadership is unmistakable and that migrants have clearly received the message.