On the campaign trail last year, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to stop the flow of illegal immigrants flooding across America's borders and "carry out the largest domestic deportation operation" in U.S. history. Since winning reelection, the Trump administration has delivered on its promises.

Within the first 250 days of the president's second term, the Department of Homeland Security has deported more than 400,000 illegal aliens. Another 1.6 million voluntarily self-deported. In August, arrests on the southern border were down nearly 90% from a year earlier, and September marked the U.S. Border Patrol's fifth consecutive month with zero releases.

President Trump's decisive action stands in stark contrast to former President Joe Biden, who refused to act and sought to deflect blame for his administration's porous borders. "I've done all I can do," Biden whined — even as Republicans and Democrats alike urged him to take executive action to address the crisis.

Congress should "show some spine," Sleepy Joe puffed in February 2024 — the same month that border crossings exceeded 9 million, not including over 1.8 million "got-aways."

"It has become clear that the current situation remains untenable," 15 House Democrats pleaded in May 2024. "All of our constituents, no matter our congressional district, have felt the impacts of the current border situation."

Trump has given those leaders (and most Americans) what they asked for: secure borders, safer streets, and a plan to rid our country of violent criminals here illegally. But you wouldn't know it listening to Democrats and the liberal media.

The left's spin machine insists that Trump's tough immigration policy — which is exactly the kind of action Democrats implored of Biden — is "illegal," "unconstitutional" and "fascist." It has compared ICE to the gestapo and terror squad. It's proclaimed that "we are at war" and called on the public to "shut down" cities.

Democrats' reckless hyperbole is divisive and incendiary. It directly contributes to violence against our law enforcement. It is abetted by mainstream media that would have the public believe that good, law-abiding citizens are being tormented. And it is utterly unmoored from reality.

Entering our country illegally is a crime, and those who are here that did not go through the proper immigration process have committed a crime. There are repercussions — in this case, a free ticket back to the country they came from.

Except for victims of human trafficking, who undoubtedly would welcome the opportunity to return to their homes and families, no illegal immigrant is here by accident. They made a choice. Under the Biden administration, roughly 1.2 million illegal immigrants were ordered out of the country by immigration judges but remained. They had their day in court and opted instead to defy our rule of law, hiding in the shadows and daring America to arrest and deport them.

Their decisions carry an enormous price, paid for by ordinary taxpayers. Illegal immigrants cost Americans at least $110 billion each year — a number that is projected to grow to nearly $170 billion annually by 2029.

Democrats are happy to ignore our country's immigration crisis — and bemoan Trump's bold action to address it — because it's good for them. They accuse Republicans of violating civil rights (which, in fact, are afforded to legal citizens) and portray them as tyrants for enforcing the law, even as they feed the problem.

Biden stopped construction of the border wall, prohibited deportations during his first 100 days in office and ended the Remain in Mexico policy. His Homeland Security secretary argued that the nearly 1.2 million illegal aliens that were issued final removal orders should remain in the country because they were not given "due process."

More recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to shield California's sanctuary cities from federal immigration enforcement. Even now Democrats in Congress are fighting to keep the government shut down to preserve taxpayer-funded health care benefits for illegals. The list goes on and on.

Only a year ago, Democrats — at least the sensible ones — were begging for answers to our country's illegal immigration emergency. Now that Trump has stepped in with real action, the left is doing all it can to oppose it. Democrats would be smart to stand with him rather than double down on their indefensible dogma.

Ken Buck served in the United States House of Representatives from 2015-2024 representing Colorado's 4th congressional district. He now serves as a Fellow with the Independent Center. To find out more about Ken Buck and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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