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Fact check: Not one illegal has gotten into our country since trump closed boarder? Is that accurate?
1. Summary of the results
The claim that "not one illegal has gotten into our country since Trump closed the border" is not accurate based on the available evidence. While multiple sources confirm dramatic reductions in border encounters, none support the absolute claim of zero illegal entries.
The Department of Homeland Security reported a 93% plunge in daily border encounters and historic low in nationwide apprehensions [1], with U.S. Border Patrol encounters dropping to only 7,000 encounters in March [2]. Another DHS source documented the lowest nationwide encounters and lowest single-day apprehensions in history [3]. However, these sources describe significant decreases rather than complete elimination of illegal border crossings.
The Trump administration has implemented comprehensive immigration enforcement measures, including deployment of troops to the southern US border and suspension of asylum hearings [4], along with deployment of civilian volunteers to the southern border [5]. These efforts have resulted in 1.6 million illegal aliens leaving the U.S. in the first 200 days of the administration [6] and doubled ICE arrests [7].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original statement lacks crucial nuance about immigration enforcement realities. While border encounters have reached historic lows, the sources indicate that ICE has made slow progress in arresting and deporting criminals and that the number of people deported by ICE has not been regularly released to the public [7]. This suggests ongoing challenges in comprehensive immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration benefits politically from promoting narratives of complete border security, as it supports their campaign promises and policy justifications. Immigration advocacy organizations would benefit from highlighting that some illegal entries continue, as it supports arguments for comprehensive immigration reform rather than enforcement-only approaches.
The sources focus heavily on government statistics and official announcements [1] [6] [3], which may present the most favorable interpretation of enforcement results. Independent immigration policy organizations provide more measured assessments, noting that while changes are dramatic, mass deportation aims are not being met [2].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement contains absolute language ("not one illegal") that is not supported by the evidence. This represents a common form of political hyperbole that transforms significant policy achievements into exaggerated claims.
The statement also uses politically charged terminology ("illegals") rather than more precise language like "unauthorized immigrants" or "illegal border crossings," which may indicate bias toward a particular political perspective.
Most significantly, the statement conflates dramatic reduction with complete elimination. While the Trump administration has achieved record-low border encounters [1] [3], claiming zero illegal entries misrepresents the complex reality of border security, where even the most effective measures cannot achieve 100% prevention of unauthorized crossings.