JD Vance backs Trump’s immigration crackdown during US-Mexico border visit

Vice President of the US JD Vance visited the US-Mexico border, emphasizing the sharp decline in illegal crossings and crediting US President Donald Trump’s administration for prioritising border security across all federal agencies.

Joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Vance toured the area around Eagle Pass, Texas, including a helicopter survey, a Border Patrol facility visit, and a roundtable discussion with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and local officials.

Border arrests decline as crackdown expands

Vance pointed to a 39% drop in arrests for illegal border crossings in January, attributing it to Trump’s directive for all government agencies to focus on border security—something he claimed former President Joe Biden failed to do.

"President Trump has empowered—and in fact demanded—that his whole government take the task of border control seriously," Vance said.

While crossings had already begun to decline before Trump’s inauguration, largely due to Mexican government enforcement and Biden-era asylum restrictions, the new administration has introduced harsher measures, including:

• Deportations via US military planes
• Transfers of detained migrants to Guantanamo Bay
• Expanded arrests of undocumented individuals across the US
• Elimination of programs that previously allowed some migrants to stay

The presence of Hegseth and Gabbard on the visit underscored the administration’s expanded approach to immigration policy, moving beyond the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to include the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies.

Gabbard raises security concerns, Abbott defends state actions

During the visit, Gabbard claimed that the Biden administration allowed individuals with suspected terrorist ties to enter the US while awaiting immigration court proceedings.

"Who are they? What may they be plotting?" Gabbard asked. "This is just the beginning."

Vance and Abbott also visited Shelby Park, a municipal area along the Rio Grande, which Abbott seized from federal authorities last year amid disputes with the Biden administration over border enforcement.

Local residents gathered nearby, expressing support for the administration’s efforts. Dennis Charlton, a veteran and Eagle Pass resident, praised Trump’s policies:

"I love it. I just wish we could talk to him to thank him for everything that he and Trump have done."

Trump imposes tariffs, Vance defends strategy

Vance’s visit came shortly after Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, arguing that neither country is doing enough to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking, particularly the fentanyl crisis.

Asked about the tariffs, Vance defended the move, stating:

"I actually think he’s doing a huge favor to the people of Mexico because, if they don’t get control of these cartels, the people of Mexico are going to wake up in a narco-state, where the cartels have more power than their own government."

When pressed on whether US military action in Mexico was under consideration, Vance dismissed speculation:

"I’m not going to make any announcements about any invasions of Mexico here today," he said. When asked again, he was more direct: “No. Next question.”

Border security buildup continues

Since Trump’s second term began, approximately 6,500 additional active-duty troops have been deployed to the southern border, bringing the total number of military personnel involved in border security to around 9,000.

Troops primarily handle detection and monitoring, relaying information to Border Patrol agents but not directly engaging with migrants.

The approach contrasts with Biden’s border policy, which focused on addressing root causes of migration and placed Vice President Kamala Harris in charge of regional diplomacy. Harris made her first border visit in June 2021, about three and a half months later into Biden’s term than Vance’s early trip.

As the administration continues to expand its crackdown, Vance signaled that further deportation and enforcement measures are likely, but warned that implementing large-scale removals of undocumented individuals will take time.

"Rome wasn’t built in a day," he said. "We have seen pretty significant increases in deportations, but President Biden gutted the entire immigration enforcement regime of this country."