House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) reluctantly acknowledged that President Donald Trump has effectively sealed the southern border—a striking admission after years of Democratic criticism of Trump’s immigration policies.
Appearing on CNBC, Jeffries was pressed on the Trump administration’s record-breaking drop in illegal crossings and migrant releases since Trump’s return to office in January.
“Are you willing to give President Trump any credit for that?” the host asked Jeffries.
Jeffries initially dodged the question, pivoting to a lengthy answer about “comprehensive immigration reform” and accusing the Trump administration of targeting “law-abiding immigrant families.”
He even suggested, falsely, that “American citizens are being deported.”
But the host pushed again, noting that illegal crossings had “gone down dramatically” since Trump reinstated strict enforcement measures.
“Can you give him credit for that?” the host asked again.
Cornered, Jeffries finally conceded: “The border is secure. That’s a good thing. It’s happened on his watch. He wants to claim credit for it. Of course, he’ll get credit for that.”
The remark marked the first time a top House Democrat has publicly admitted that Trump succeeded where his predecessors — Republican and Democrat alike — had failed: restoring operational control over the nation’s southern border.
The Trump Administration is hailing a major achievement in terms of border enforcement, as federal officials announced that there have been 11 consecutive months without any illegal alien releases at the southern border. The milestone, confirmed on Friday by the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, represents what officials call a dramatic change in enforcement results.
“Eleven straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “The world knows America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.”
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott also hailed the milestone, echoing Mullin and crediting President Trump’s commitment to border security. “America First policies, real consequences, and a unified federal effort—backed by personnel, infrastructure, and technology—are how we’ve delivered the most secure border in U.S. history,” Scott said. “This isn’t temporary—it’s the new normal.”
Administration officials say recent data showing declines in illegal border crossings and apprehensions reflect the impact of updated enforcement policies.
According to figures from DHS and CBP, daily apprehensions have fallen significantly compared to previous periods, and monthly totals along the southwest border have remained below 9,000 for more than a year.
Officials attribute the trend to a combination of stricter enforcement measures, expanded resources, and policy changes intended to deter unlawful entry.
With crossings at historically low levels, the administration has said its focus is now on maintaining those conditions and preventing a return to higher levels seen in prior years.
Scott was confirmed to his post by the Senate earlier this year.
Scott formerly served as Border Patrol Chief and currently commands the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) biggest enforcement department, which has approximately 65,000 workers.
CBP consists of two divisions: the Border Patrol, which is in charge of protecting the nation’s borders between ports of entry, and the Office of Field Operations (OFO), which is in charge of security at ports of entry.
After leaving the Border Patrol, Commissioner Scott remained a major advocate on the need to protect our borders, repeatedly calling for a return to Trump-era practices.
In the autumn of 2021, he will begin working as a Distinguished Senior Fellow for Border Security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Scott spoke before Congress on many occasions and made countless media appearances, advocating for tougher immigration enforcement.
Along with Safe Third Country agreements and the Remain in Mexico program, which requires asylum applicants to wait in Mexico for court proceedings, Scott backed building the border wall, which remains a top objective in a second Trump administration.