The Success of Trump's Border Policies

Via Instapundit:

🚨 HOLY SMOKES! The success of Donald Trump’s border in one image.

Migrant crossings at the insanely dangerous Darien Gap:

2022: 248,284
2023: 520,085
2024: 302,203
2025: 2,941 (!!!)

It’s a decline of nearly 100%.

The Gap is located between Colombia and Panama; it’s a… pic.twitter.com/8RAU3JDbYW

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 15, 2025

What won't be reported: there is a corresponding decline in rapes and deaths.

Migration is not compassion. It's an evil that has been perpetuated by our government and the UN. pic.twitter.com/XoaxuHwcMr

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) November 16, 2025

The most important thing here is preservation of American sovereignty and thwarting of the left's efforts to destabilize the nation, challenge our right to control our borders, and undermine the rule of law and the importance of citizenship.

   I basically never mention the benefits of border control to illegal aliens and aspiring illegal aliens themselves because I consider that a cheat. It's playing the left's game of weaponized compassion. Arguments about the good of the aspiring illegals themselves are basically beside the point. My position would not change significantly even if illegals were entering the country without risk.

   Furthermore, the "immigrants" themselves judge the costs of the trip to be worth it. Pointing to the costs doesn't really matter much without mentioning the benefits--and the fact that the people taking the risks think it's worth it. They themselves judge that the arduous trip is worth the risk...to sneak into the epicenter of world racism and terribleness... If only they had taken some courses in American universities, they'd see what a hellhole this is, and not be tempted to come...

   Finally: I, like most conservatives so far as I can tell, am not angry at your average, otherwise law-abiding illegal alien. I understand why they've done what they've done, I sympathize, and I would absolutely do the same myself were the tables turned. And they'd have--or should have--the same position I have now were the tables turned. I sympathize with them like I sympathize with poor people who shoplift to improve their lot. Doesn't mean that I think we should ignore shoplifting laws.

   This is another crucial case illustrating the crazification of the left. Conservatives continue to have the same, sane view that everyone had...before the left went nuts: legal immigrants are welcome; illegals are not. Twenty years ago, when I was still a Democrat, I called it, and virtually no one believed me: the Dems had already begun saying more and more things that sounded like they were on their way to a veiled open-borders position. And here we are. Well...we were already here 5-10 years ago. Now the blue team believes that it's wrong to stop people at the border and wrong to deport them once they're here. Which is tantamount to open borders. Which position will inevitably lead to the collapse of the nation.

   And our problem is nowhere even near Europe's problem.

   But, hey...better for the West to collapse than for people to think you might be racist! And what about those poor people...aw... Why can't you just be nice? Emotions emotions sympathy tears quavering voice emotions... See?

   However...

   Trump's policies do have benefits to the migrants themselves...even if they don't matter much to the arguments. And, of course, that's good.