The Quiet Border: A Nation Under Siege or a manufactured Crisis?
On a crisp winter day in Nogales, Arizona, the southwestern border of the United States was eerily quiet. Border Patrol Agent Teresa Fast navigated her truck along dirt roads, passing colleagues stationed in the desert. The radios were silent, and the usual signs of activity were absent. "Right now in the field, we really don’t have anything going on," Fast remarked. This scene contrasts sharply with the rhetoric of a border "under siege" that President Trump has consistently promoted since his first day in office. Trump declared a national emergency, dispatched troops, and implemented harsh immigration policies, all under the banner of defending a border that today feels quieter than it has in years.
The narrative of an "invasion" and a spiraling crisis seems at odds with the reality on the ground. A record-breaking surge in migration during the Biden administration had already subsided by the time Trump took office last month. In fact, crossings dropped further during his first weeks in power, as asylum seekers were turned away, deportations ramped up, and a sweeping crackdown was launched inside the country. Shelters that once overflowed with migrants are now nearly empty. In McAllen, Texas, a shelter that housed 97 people on January 20 now cares for just nine. In San Antonio, a Catholic Charities shelter is on the verge of closing due to a lack of new arrivals.
The Decline in Crossings: A New Era of Deterrence
Along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas National Guard troops stood watch on Inauguration Day, their mission to secure a border that had seen few, if any, migrants attempting to cross. The data tells a striking story: apprehensions along the border have plummeted. Last week, the new Border Patrol chief revealed that in a seven-day period, apprehensions were down by an astonishing 91 percent compared to the same time last year. In Tucson, Arizona, once the busiest section of the entire border, weekly encounters with immigrants have dropped from 1,200 to just 450. On one day last week, only 22 people were in custody in the Tucson sector, down from 500 a month earlier.
Border officials attribute this dramatic decline to the "certainty of arrest and return," a shift in strategy under the Trump administration. Migrants are no longer surrendering en masse to claim asylum or be released into the country. Instead, many now attempt to evade detection by navigating treacherous terrain—canyons, mountains, and vast deserts. The risks are deadly; each year, hundreds of migrants succumb to heat exhaustion, dehydration, or exposure while attempting to cross. Despite these dangers, the numbers suggest that Trump’s hardline policies are deterring many from even trying.
The Human Toll: Migrants in the Shadows
For those who still attempt the journey, the challenges are immense. Many migrants are unaware of the dramatic changes in U.S. immigration policies, including the near-total shutdown of asylum access. Some, like Farouk, a 38-year-old fleeing political persecution in Bangladesh, cling to the hope that they will be allowed to stay if they can prove their case. Others, like Ankit, a 21-year-old Christian from India, believe that the risks are worth taking, even in the face of deportation. Santos, a 15-year-old from Guatemala, left home on Inauguration Day, hoping to reach his grandfather in Los Angeles and support his four younger siblings. As he awaited Border Patrol agents, he wondered what Trump’s presidency meant for his American dreams.
These stories humanize the statistics, reminding us that behind the numbers are lives shaped by desperation, hope, and resilience. Yet, for many migrants, the journey is becoming increasingly perilous. With fewer seeking to surrender and more attempting to evade detection, the dangers of crossing have never been greater.
The Role of the Military: Fortifying the Border
Despite the relative calm, the Trump administration continues to militarize the border. Over 1,500 additional troops have been deployed to California, Texas, and Arizona, joining the 2,500 already stationed along the border. These soldiers and Marines are tasked with fortifying the border fence, assisting Border Patrol agents, and monitoring surveillance equipment. In Sunland Park, New Mexico, troops spent their days standing guard or driving rented pickup trucks along the wall. One new recruit admitted she had yet to spot a migrant during her deployment.
The deployment of troops has drawn criticism from humanitarian groups and some lawmakers, who question the need for such a robust military presence at a time when crossings are at historic lows. Volunte
