In a recent appearance on the conservative podcast "Ruthless," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt vehemently refuted the notion that presidential action on the United States' immigration crisis is contingent upon congressional approval. During the discussion, which commemorated President Donald Trump's first six months in office, Leavitt praised the administration's decisive use of executive powers to fulfill two significant campaign promises: combating inflation and fortifying the U.S.-Mexico border.
Leavitt, 27, reflected on the campaign's objectives, stating, "It is incredible. If you think back to the campaign, which you guys covered, and I was part of, the President really promised so many things, but really two things, right, defeat inflation and secure the border." She underscored the rapid manner in which the administration acted, asserting, "It’s so remarkable, and they did it all via executive power and orders."
The podcast's host, Josh Holmes, acknowledged the skepticism previously surrounding such an approach. "We were told reliably you couldn’t do that," he commented. Leavitt's blunt response, "Yeah, we were told you needed a bill to secure the border, which was bulls***," elicited laughter from the hosts, but she continued earnestly, "You just needed a new president."
On his first day in office, President Trump initiated a series of executive actions targeting immigration, directing federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, to enhance border security measures immediately. These directives resulted in the deployment of thousands of active-duty troops to the southern border, granting them temporary control over approximately 100,000 acres of land to aid in preventing illegal crossings.
Moreover, the administration tightened the asylum process, aiming to curb the ability of individuals to enter the U.S. illegally and subsequently claim asylum. These changes have encountered legal obstacles and are currently under judicial review.
The Daily Mail reported that in February, Trump issued an executive action to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing federal funds. This was followed by an April directive targeting "Sanctuary Cities," instructing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to employ "all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures" to ensure these jurisdictions comply with federal law.
Other initiatives, like Trump's challenge to the interpretation of birthright citizenship, have faced judicial pushback but are still being evaluated. Despite these challenges, Leavitt highlighted tangible results from the administration's efforts. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, the number of migrant encounters in June plummeted to around 25,000—a significant low for the agency.
Leavitt's statistics bolster the administration's stance that immediate executive action can yield tangible outcomes without the need for congressional intervention. In addition to these actions, President Trump has introduced legislative proposals to advance his immigration agenda. In July, the administration proposed the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," requesting substantial funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP to augment enforcement capabilities.
The Trump administration's assertive use of executive authority marks a distinct departure from the approaches of prior administrations regarding immigration policy.
