An astonishing feat has just been accomplished at our southern border. The number of illegal immigrants attempting to enter America fell to a historic low in February. Only 8,326 people tried to enter, and virtually all were sent back to their home countries.
In the previous four years, record numbers of foreigners unlawfully crossed into America at the rate of 200,000 monthly, and one month saw over 300,000 come. Most were allowed to stay. The Trump-Vance administration has brought these numbers down by more than 90 percent.
This dramatic decline should be celebrated for these reasons: Drug cartels are no longer as successful in human trafficking; fewer migrant women and children are being raped and exploited; American families are safer; fewer unidentified foreigners in the grips of radical Islam are coming into our nation.
We were told for years that the border could not be secured unless a massive new immigration law was passed. That claim was false. The solution was simple: an administration in Washington that understands we are not a nation if we do not have control over our borders.
Securing our borders is only one example of the positive policies now coming out of our capital. A new task force led by Attorney General Pam Bondi has been assigned to find and eliminate anti-Christian bias throughout our government. Also, a new faith-based office in the White House is ensuring Christians have an “open door” to provide input on policies that impact American families and protect parental rights.
A top priority of the Trump administration is to stop Christian persecution here and abroad. Speaking at a prayer breakfast last week, Vice President Vance said,
We know that some of the biggest groups that are persecuted all over the world today are Christians, and the Trump administration promises you that, whether it's here at home with our own citizens or all over the world, we will be the biggest defenders of religious liberty and the rights of conscience.1
In addition, there is a strong commitment at the White House to combat the antisemitism that has exploded across our country. Of particular concern are universities where Jewish students have been threatened, intimidated, and physically attacked. President Trump’s Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is now visiting ten university campuses to investigate the failure of schools to protect Jewish students and professors from unlawful discrimination. Among the schools under investigation are Columbia University, George Washington University, Harvard University, John Hopkins University, New York University, and the University of Minnesota.
Finally, the executive branch is stepping up its efforts to protect America’s children from radical trans ideology. We commend the president’s order that men who claim they are women are prohibited from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
The Department of Education has just opened investigations into several universities reportedly violating his order. In addition, President Trump has told state education officials across the country that they must protect women and girls from unfair competition and the prospect of physical harm imposed by larger men and boys.
JDFI is grateful that the Trump-Vance administration is presently asking for our advice and counsel on a host of issues impacting faith, family, and freedom.
1JD Vance, “Vice President JD Vance Delivers Remarks at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast,” YouTube, February 28, 2025, 32:44, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCY0b1wWX9A
