House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has admitted that President Donald Trump has secured the southern border.
The Daily Caller reported that in a surprising turn on CNN's "The Situation Room" with host Pamela Brown on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Jeffries gave credit to Trump for a significant drop in border crossings, though he couldn’t resist critiquing the administration’s broader immigration tactics.
Let’s rewind a day to Tuesday, when Trump, during a cabinet meeting, boasted that Border Patrol agents hadn’t released a single migrant into the U.S. interior for six straight months.
That’s a bold claim, and it set the stage for the CNN showdown. It’s hard not to notice the contrast with past administrations when such control seemed like a pipe dream.
Host Pamela Brown didn’t let Jeffries off easy, pointing out that apprehensions at the border under Trump are notably lower than during former President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Customs and Border Protection data backs this up, showing roughly 11 million border encounters from February 2021 to December 2024 under Biden. That’s a staggering figure, and it’s no surprise Brown pressed for some honesty.
Brown’s persistence paid off as she repeatedly asked if Jeffries would tip his hat to Trump for the dramatic decline in crossings compared to Biden’s record highs. It’s almost amusing to imagine the squirm in that studio chair. Finally, Jeffries relented, though you could hear the gritted teeth.
“The border is secure. That’s a good thing. It’s happened on his watch,” Jeffries conceded on CNN's "The Situation Room."
He went on to say, “He wants to claim credit for it. Of course, he’ll get credit for that,” as reported on CNN. But let’s not pretend this was a love letter—Jeffries quickly pivoted to slam Trump’s interior enforcement as lacking focus on serious offenders.
While it’s refreshing to hear a Democrat admit the border is under control, one has to wonder if this praise is just political theater. After all, Jeffries couldn’t help but harp on a supposed public disapproval of Trump’s immigration stance.
Data from a December 2024 New York Times analysis, showing Biden oversaw historic net migration—much of it unauthorized—makes this critique ring a bit hollow.
Still, credit where it’s due: Trump’s policies have delivered results that many conservatives have long demanded. The numbers don’t lie, and even a staunch opponent like Jeffries had to nod to the reality. It’s a rare moment of clarity in a debate often clouded by partisan fog.
Yet, Jeffries’ broader point about a broken immigration system isn’t entirely off-base, even if his solutions likely lean toward the progressive side.
He’s right that comprehensive reform needs bipartisan support, but let’s not kid ourselves—too often, that’s code for amnesty or lax enforcement. Conservatives will argue that security must remain the foundation, not a bargaining chip.
The sharp drop in crossings under Trump’s watch is a win for those who’ve long criticized open-border policies as unsustainable. It’s a reminder that strong leadership can shift the tide, even if the methods spark heated disagreement. The challenge now is maintaining that control without losing sight of humane, practical reform.
Brown’s pointed question, “But in terms of securing the border, can you give President Trump any credit for securing the border?” cut through the usual political dodge. It forced Jeffries to confront a reality many on the left prefer to ignore. That moment alone was worth tuning in for.
Jeffries’s begrudging nod to Trump’s success doesn’t erase the deeper divide over immigration enforcement tactics. He argues the public rejects Trump’s approach, but conservatives might counter that safety and sovereignty resonate more than ever. The debate isn’t just about numbers—it’s about what kind of nation we want to be.
For now, Trump has a tangible achievement to point to, one even his critics can’t fully dismiss. The border is more secure than it’s been in years, and that’s a starting point for any serious policy discussion. Let’s hope both sides can build on this rare agreement instead of retreating to their corners.
