Staff Reports
As the situation at the southern border continues to be a hot-button issue, it seems the cavalry is finally riding in—literally. Lawrence Jones reports from El Paso, Texas, where Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is making his debut border visit since his confirmation. Alongside him is Tom Homan, with both high-profile border enforcers putting the pedal to the metal in efforts to clamp down on illegal border crossings and the drugs flooding into our country. It looks like it’s not just cattle being rounded up by cowboys down south.
Hegseth opens a historical playbook, underscoring the forgotten role of military assets aimed at the War on Drugs. These are no relics from JFK’s time; they are resources being resurrected to tackle today’s pressing threats. If Hegseth has his way, U.S. Southern Command will no longer be a ghost of military strategy past but rather a full-throttle operation targeting narcotics. This marks an active shift—one that’s set to get operational overnight because, as the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump continues to influence through economic prowess and political push. Once applauded for convincing Mexico to amp up its military presence on the border and spearheading the Remain in Mexico policy, the team is keen on repeating such feats. As Jones points out, this two-pronged approach is reinforced by Senator Marco Rubio working diplomatic magic to make El Salvador a safety hatch for unwanted arrivals. Talk about sending a curveball to those hoping to take advantage of our northern hospitality—or perhaps a gentle reminder that we’re not accepting RSVPs from border jumpers anymore.
Reports indicate that between bolstering the border’s first line of defense and sniffing out criminals within the interior, Homeland Security is putting on an impressive show of force. Over the weekend alone, ICE reportedly apprehended over 700 illegal immigrants, including hundreds with prior convictions or charges. A vibrant tapestry of criminal conduct stretches across cities from San Antonio to Seattle—from aggravated assault to drug trafficking. These aren’t the kind of guest lists America plans on extending. The troops seem eager to get their hands dirty for duty.
Not to be outdone, Governor Abbott isn’t waiting on federal whims to fund his border infrastructure while the now-famous border wall discussion continues. With past funds left unspent by previous administrations, construction of the wall is slated to restart. But let’s not break out the confetti just yet; it appears not all those bells and whistles from previous builds are available. Many components were auctioned off—a move Abbott labels as pettiness obstructing public safety. If political pettiness were a crime, there might just be another lineup at the border. Thus, the situation continues to unfold, but at least now it’s in the spotlight.
