Trump’s border enforcement strategies have crushed migrant crossings in San Diego by 96.4%, forcing closure of migrant processing centers and leading to nearly 200 layoffs in immigration service organizations as the need for their services has all but evaporated.
Key Takeaways
- San Diego Sector Border Patrol has closed a 1,000-person migrant processing center as daily apprehensions plummeted from 1,090 to just 38 per day
- The Trump administration’s enhanced border enforcement strategies have effectively ended the previous “catch and release” protocols
- Catholic Charities and the San Diego Rapid Response Network were forced to lay off 188 employees due to drastically reduced demand for migrant services
- Similar processing centers in Texas have also been dismantled, saving approximately $10 million per month in operational costs
- The drop in illegal crossings has increased border security ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
Dramatic Decline in Border Crossings Leads to Facility Closures
The San Diego Sector Border Patrol has shuttered its massive migrant processing center as illegal border crossings have fallen to a fraction of their previous levels. The facility, which could accommodate up to 1,000 migrants, has been completely dismantled following a staggering 96.4% decrease in daily apprehensions. Where agents once processed 1,090 migrants per day in the sector, they now handle just 38 daily, a direct result of President Trump’s strengthened border policies that have effectively deterred illegal crossings since taking office in January.
“Due to the unprecedented decrease in illegal crossings this year, the massive 1,000 person, San Diego Sector Soft Sided Facility has been dismantled,” said by San Diego Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker.
The border patrol cited enhanced security for the Memorial Day weekend as an immediate benefit of the facility’s closure. This marks a significant operational victory for the administration, which promised to regain control of the southern border after years of record-breaking illegal immigration under the previous administration. Current apprehension numbers mirror those from the early months of Trump’s first term, when illegal crossings averaged about 47 per day.
Immigration Service Organizations Forced to Downsize
The dramatic reduction in illegal border crossings has sent shockwaves through organizations that expanded rapidly during the previous administration’s border crisis. Catholic Charities and the San Diego Rapid Response Network have been forced to implement significant layoffs, cutting a combined 188 positions as the demand for migrant services has virtually disappeared. These organizations had developed extensive infrastructure to manage the flow of migrants released into the United States under the previous administration’s “catch and release” policy.
President Trump’s termination of “catch and release” policies has fundamentally changed the immigration landscape. With migrants no longer being released into the country while awaiting immigration proceedings, the network of shelters and services that had grown around this practice has become largely obsolete. The impact extends beyond just San Diego, with similar closures occurring throughout border states as the administration’s policies take full effect.
Nationwide Border Security Improvements
The San Diego facility closure is part of a broader pattern of dismantling migration infrastructure that had been established during the previous administration. Similar migrant processing centers in Texas have also been closed, generating substantial cost savings for American taxpayers. The South Texas shelters alone cost approximately $10 million per month to operate, funds that can now be redirected to other priorities. These closures represent tangible evidence of the administration’s border security achievements.
Simultaneously, the House is processing a massive spending bill allocating over $150 billion for enhanced border security, detention facilities, and deportation operations. This comprehensive funding package aims to sustain and expand the current success in deterring illegal immigration. The legislation includes significant resources for additional border barriers, security personnel, and enforcement technology to ensure the progress made in reducing illegal crossings becomes permanent.
Border Success Becoming a Political Strongpoint
The dramatic reduction in illegal border crossings has become a potent talking point for the administration, which has frequently highlighted the contrast between current border statistics and the record-breaking numbers seen during the previous administration. Critics have raised concerns about potential civil liberties issues and the treatment of migrants during deportation operations, but supporters emphasize that the policies are working as intended to restore order to the southern border.
The border situation demonstrates the significant policy differences between the current and previous administrations. Where the Biden administration’s approach led to record numbers of illegal crossings and necessitated massive processing centers, the Trump administration’s enforcement-focused strategy has dramatically reduced crossings and eliminated the need for such facilities. For border communities and immigration officials, the current approach has restored a sense of order to what had been an overwhelming crisis.
