It’s a new day at the southern border—and let’s just say, orange really is the new black if you’re an illegal border crosser these days. Because under President Trump’s second term, crossing into the United States illegally doesn’t earn you a bus ticket and a free phone anymore. It earns you a jumpsuit, a pair of ankle chains, and a one-way trip through a federal courtroom. And unlike the first go-around, this time, the administration isn’t just talking tough—they’re following through.
Nine illegal immigrants—eight from Central America and Mexico, one from Poland (yes, Poland)—recently marched into a Del Rio, Texas federal courtroom, not to claim asylum or make demands, but to plead guilty. Because unlike under the Biden administration, where entering the country illegally often meant a pat on the head and a warm meal, this time around, they hit the jackpot of bad timing. These individuals strolled across the border just months too late, only to be greeted not by welcome wagons but by Judge Matthew Watters, who offered them a little something called consequences.
Each stood before the judge, apologizing and swearing they’d never do it again. And maybe—just maybe—they won’t. Because now, this isn’t a game of catch and release. This is a courtroom carousel of jail sentences and guaranteed deportations. Some got 30 days, others got 105. But here’s the twist: after serving their time, they’re not wandering back into the interior of the country. They’re going home. Immediately. Courtesy of ICE and the U.S. Marshal Service, not Greyhound.
Let’s rewind to the Biden years for a moment. In October 2024 alone, Border Patrol recorded more than 106,000 encounters. Most of those migrants? Released. Why? Because under Biden, detaining and deporting was out of fashion. What we had instead was a broken system propped up by a broken will to enforce it.
Fast forward to today, and thanks to Trump’s return and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), those numbers have plummeted like CNN’s ratings—down to under 7,000 in March 2025. And not just fewer crossings. Every single one detained. Every single one put in removal proceedings.
This isn’t just a shift in policy. It’s a complete overhaul of the mindset. DHS and DOJ are now under orders to dust off federal laws long shelved under progressive hand-wringing—laws that include serious prison time for repeat offenders. First-time offenders may get off with a few months, but get caught again, and you’re looking at two, ten, even twenty years in a federal lockup. If that doesn’t deter you, nothing will.
IF YOU CROSS OUR BORDERS ILLEGALLY, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED, CHARGED, AND REPATRIATED TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY
TRUMP TO MAKE AMERICA SAFE💪🇺🇲
MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN💯🇺🇲
MAGA 🇺🇲💯 pic.twitter.com/QI8md7fwwS
— 5DME81 (@5dme81) April 8, 2025
And here’s the real kicker: this isn’t just rhetoric. These cases are flooding federal court dockets across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Prosecutors are slapping 1325 and 1326 charges on hundreds of illegal aliens every week. And while critics might snark about “mass deportations” being slow, the reason is simple—these folks are in the system, serving time, and then they’ll be on the first flight out. It’s a slow burn, but it’s burning hot.
Defense attorneys are already admitting it: the courtroom traffic in Del Rio is heavier than it’s been in years. The message is getting out. Immigrants in Juarez and elsewhere are hearing the stories—get caught now, and you’re not just deported. You’re jailed. For a long time. Even a former Venezuelan soldier said he’s staying put: “The Americans will put you in jail for two years.” That’s what deterrence looks like.
No more excuses. No more loopholes. No more pretending the border is secure while ICE agents are being ordered to look the other way. Trump 2.0 has shown up, and this time, the playbook doesn’t just talk about sovereignty—it enforces it. The Biden years turned the southern border into a doormat. Trump just picked it up, shook it out, and slammed the door shut.
“Once in this legal carousel, convicted border crossers risk far more punishment if caught trying to cross again and get charged at the next level, under 8 USC 1326, which can draw UP TO 20 years in prison” https://t.co/MUwk321C6G
— Todd Bensman (@BensmanTodd) April 10, 2025
And the best part? This isn’t just a blip. This is policy with teeth. With judges, prosecutors, and agents all reading from the same page—and that page doesn’t include amnesty, it includes jail time and a ticket out. So to anyone thinking about testing the border now, the message is clear: think again. Because America’s back—and we’re enforcing the law like we mean it.
