As Donald Trump readies himself to step into the Oval Office once again, the U.S.-Mexico border has turned into a frenzied scene, with illegal immigrants making desperate attempts to sneak across before his tough immigration policies come into play. According to reports, human smugglers are practically holding strategy sessions, urging migrants at the Panama-Colombia border to hustle north before January. The looming prospect of Trump’s return to the White House seems to have set off a panic, as many fear he will swiftly dismantle the porous pathways that have defined the Biden-Harris years.
Mexican immigrant advocates have confirmed that this post-election chaos is no coincidence. In the aftermath of Trump’s victory, coordinated efforts in WhatsApp groups began urging migrants to make their move before the clock runs out. Messages fueled by fear spread like wildfire among those hoping to slip into the U.S. under the wire. Despite Trump’s well-documented promises of mass deportations, many still believe the risk is worth it—especially while Vice President Kamala Harris, the so-called “border czar,” remains notably absent from the job she was supposedly tasked with handling.
Human smugglers, always quick to adapt, are now advising migrants to bypass areas where state troopers have arrest authority. Texas officials have reported that many migrants no longer view encounters with Border Patrol agents as a significant risk, given the current administration’s leniency. Under the Biden-Harris policies, migrants are often released into the U.S. with distant court dates, effectively granting them years to remain in the country. This permissive environment is a stark contrast to Trump’s first term, when he reversed the tide with firm policies and relentless follow-through.
The numbers tell the story of chaos at the southern border over the past four years. The Biden administration saw more than 8.5 million illegal immigrant encounters, a staggering statistic that has left communities along the border overwhelmed. In places like Eagle Pass, Texas, an average of 300 illegal immigrants cross daily, with the state bracing itself for an even larger surge before Trump takes office.
Trump has made it clear that his second term will not be a repeat of Biden’s border crisis. He has vowed to resume border wall construction within days of taking office, reinstate the effective “Remain in Mexico” program, bolster the ranks of border patrol agents, and roll out the largest deportation initiative in U.S. history. If there’s one thing Americans learned from his first term, it’s that Trump doesn’t just make promises—he keeps them. For those hoping to slip into the country before the January deadline, the window is closing fast.
