Trump’s America First Tactic STUNS Cartels

(PatriotNews.net) – President Trump’s border policies have slashed illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking, proving strong leadership delivers results after years of Biden-era chaos.

Story Highlights

US-Mexico border encounters dropped over a third in 2024 to 1.6 million, stabilizing after 2022-2023 peaks of 2.5 million.
Fentanyl seizures fell 19.3% in 2024, with Mexico claiming 50% trafficking reduction by early 2026 via record busts.
US synthetic overdose deaths plunged 27%, saving American lives from the opioid crisis fueled by open borders.
Trilateral US-Mexico-Canada dialogues and USMCA leverage drove cooperation, pressuring cartels and reducing threats.

Declines in Illegal Border Encounters

US Customs and Border Protection recorded US-Mexico border encounters dropping over a third in 2024 to 1.6 million, down from peaks exceeding 2.5 million in 2022 and 2023. Pre-2019 levels stayed below 600,000 annually until policy shifts under the prior administration inflated numbers through asylum backlogs. President Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 reversed this trend with strict enforcement, ending catch-and-release and restoring order. American families now face fewer risks from unchecked migration that strained communities and resources.

2026 Threat Assessment: Illegal Migration, Drug Trafficking Downhttps://t.co/M8bXJr9bMf

— RedState (@RedState) March 18, 2026

Fentanyl Seizures and Overdose Reductions

Fentanyl seizures at southwest ports declined 19.3% in 2024 after peaking with a 600% rise from 2019 to 2023. In January 2026, 84.6% of seizures occurred at ports of entry, primarily by US citizens—80% of fentanyl traffickers. Mexico’s Sheinbaum administration claimed a 50% drop in trafficking by early 2026, backed by a record 1.1-ton bust in December 2025 and 55 cartel extraditions in 2025. US synthetic overdose deaths fell 27%, while Canada’s dropped 17%, directly tied to these enforcement gains.

Mexican Enforcement and Trilateral Cooperation

Mexico under President Sheinbaum surged seizures after taking office in October 2024, aligning with US pressure through USMCA trade reviews that link market access to migration and drug controls. The January 27-28, 2026, North American Drug Dialogue committed to three-year priorities on supply chains, enforcement, and recovery. The US leads by designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. This partnership contrasts sharp declines with prior surges, validating Trump’s America First approach over globalist failures.

📢💥 BIG BREAKING 💥📢:2026 Threat Assessment: Illegal Migration, Drug Trafficking Down https://t.co/1OpzkHHXgW

— Expeditious Feed (@Expeditiousfeed) March 18, 2026

Cartel Pressures and Lingering Challenges

Cartels face revenue strain from $4-12 billion in annual human smuggling losses as migration falls, forcing adaptations like cocaine shifts to Europe and Africa. Global efforts by the International Narcotics Control Board stopped three tons of precursors in 2025 via the PEN platform, averting 1.6 billion fentanyl doses across 190 countries. Experts note seizures undercount actual flows, with early 2026 data showing sustained but cautious declines. Trump’s policies protect conservative values by prioritizing secure borders, family safety, and limited government over endless foreign aid.