In the immediate aftermath of President Donald Trump's inauguration, security actions along the southern border have ramped up significantly, with several measures put into effect within hours of the ceremony. According to reports from local news outlets, multiple ports of entry were temporarily shut down, and immigration appointments were canceled, signaling a stark shift in border enforcement policies.
The port of entry in El Paso, Texas, was among those temporarily closed, with authorities warning that any attempts to cross the border at this point could result in arrest, prosecution, and the possible application of force. "Crossing beyond this point will result in arrest, prosecution, and possible application of force," an announcement echoed over loudspeakers.
In addition to these physical closures, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) took further action by suspending the use of the CBP One application, a tool used by migrants to schedule immigration appointments. The app, which had been in use since October 2020, had facilitated nearly 919,000 entries into the United States as of January 2023. However, an estimated 270,000 migrants in Mexico were awaiting appointments through the app at the time of the shutdown, according to CBS News.
The new administration under President Trump has also indicated the reinstatement of previous policies from his first term. This includes the “Remain in Mexico” program, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their immigration claims were processed in the U.S. Additionally, Trump pledged to end the controversial “catch and release” policy, under which individuals illegally entering the U.S. were often released while waiting for an immigration hearing.
In his inaugural address, President Trump outlined his vision for immigration reform, stating that “all illegal entry will immediately be halted.” He also declared that his administration would begin the process of returning millions of individuals who had entered the country illegally. “We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott wasted no time in calling on President Trump to take swift action, writing a letter urging the new president to "exercise the full scope of your authority" to secure the southern border. Abbott also expressed frustration over what he described as federal obstruction in addressing border security.
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