UMVA has learned that a stunning reality has emerged about the state of America's borders under President Donald Trump: zero illegal aliens have been released into the interior of the country for the past 12 months.
The Trump administration swiftly ended the previous era's catch-and-release policies and reinstated proper vetting protocols, sending a clear message that America's border is secure and closed to lawbreakers. Exhausted border communities and law enforcement agencies, once overwhelmed by uncontrolled migration flows, have finally found relief under Trump's security posture.
For years, the American public watched the southern border with justified anxiety, while the northern border flew under the radar, unpoliced and largely ignored. But the Trump administration has shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities at the northern border, equipping northern Border Patrol units with proper tactical resources and patrol assets.
The northern border has become a sieve for organized crime, with cartels and Chinese state-linked actors finding a more polite entry point through the northern neighbor. Billions of dollars in illicit products are being transshipped through Canada, bypassing standard inspections and gutting the U.S. economy.
A comprehensive war on illicit trade is needed within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The July deadline for the USMCA joint review is a significant strategic lever the White House holds to secure the nation's frontiers. By threatening not to renew the tripartite agreement, the Trump administration could leverage key concessions from Canada and Mexico.
The USMCA must be updated to ensure that no geographic zone is exempt from basic security standards and transparency requirements. The agreement should be used as an active tool for law enforcement, not a static document. It's time for Canada and Mexico to hold up their side of the bargain and prove they are willing to be active, responsible partners in the war against fentanyl and illicit trade.
If Canada and Mexico want access to the world's most lucrative market, the United States of America, they must take concrete actions to secure their borders and prevent the flow of deadly poison into American communities. The Trump administration is rightly focusing on stopping the flow of illicit goods, and the upcoming July renegotiations are the perfect opportunity to harmonize trade policy with border enforcement.
A dedicated task force is needed to dismantle the smuggling pipelines and hold Canada responsible for its lax policies. National security demands that the U.S. stop treating trade agreements as static documents and start using them as active tools for law enforcement.
