A dramatic shift has taken place along the southern border since the change in administration. Illegal crossings have plummeted following the implementation of stricter border security measures earlier this year.
The preceding four years witnessed a surge in border activity, with estimates suggesting as many as fifteen million individuals entered the country illegally. This influx created significant challenges for both federal and state authorities.
Texas law enforcement, particularly the Department of Public Safety, has been at the forefront of the response. Troopers have relentlessly pursued and apprehended those involved in human smuggling operations, turning those illegally present over to federal Border Patrol agents.
Late last November, a high-speed chase unfolded in Webb County. A van, driven by Juan Antonio Aleman of Laredo, sped through city streets with ten individuals locked inside. The desperate attempt to evade capture ultimately failed, resulting in Aleman’s arrest.
Aleman confessed to being promised $2,000 for his role in the smuggling operation. The ten individuals found inside the van were subsequently taken into custody by Border Patrol. He now faces ten counts of human smuggling, alongside charges of evading arrest.
Just weeks prior, another pursuit ended with a collision. A vehicle fleeing DPS troopers crashed into a commercial truck, thankfully without causing serious injuries. Both the driver and an accomplice were arrested, and the individuals they were transporting were handed over to Border Patrol.
Among those apprehended in that incident was a fifteen-year-old, highlighting the vulnerability of those attempting to cross the border illegally. The incident underscored the dangers inherent in these smuggling operations.
The Constitution itself addresses this very scenario. Article IV, Section 4, explicitly grants the federal government the duty to protect states from invasion and ensure a republican form of government. This foundational principle has been invoked in recent discussions surrounding border security.
A renewed emphasis on enforcing existing laws and securing the border has marked the current administration. This represents a significant departure from previous policies and a return to a stricter interpretation of federal responsibility.
The changes signal a clear message: the rule of law is being actively restored and the nation’s borders are being actively defended.
