Today, as we mark 100 days of the second Trump administration, we invited Michael DeBruhl, our newest Forum Fellow and resident of El Paso, Texas, to take the pen at the top. Although the most dramatic steps the administration has taken in its first 100 days are on interior enforcement, we asked Michael to share his perspective from the border. 

The rest of The Forum Daily team is Jillian Clark, Soledad Gassó Parker, Dan Gordon, Broc Murphy, Clara Villatoro and Becka Wall. Email us if you have a story to share from your own community. 

Upon assuming office 100 days ago, President Donald Trump reiterated one of his key campaign promises: to secure the nation’s borders. On day one The White House declared a state of emergency and an "invasion" [of migrants], based on high numbers of asylum seekers arriving at the border. The policies his administration has implemented since then have, among other things, prioritized enforcement on and militarized the border.  

A separate executive order restricts migration, including pausing refugee resettlement and limiting asylum and humanitarian protections. Border encounters, which already had decreased over 80% in the last year of the Biden administration, have fallen further, as a team at The Wall Street Journal reported. 

That hasn’t paused the militarization of the border, though. In the past, troops assisted in administrative and support roles, but recently this has changed, as reported by Drew F. Lawrence of Military.com. (Lawrence also reported on the deployment of military intelligence professionals.)  

According to the New Mexico Political Report, just last week, service members were granted the authority to detain border trespassers, effectively placing them at the heart of immigration enforcement. This raises a fundamental concern echoed by our forefathers, who warned against the dangers of a military force enforcing civilian law, fearing that such power could eventually be turned inward and used against the very citizens it was meant to protect. 

With almost three decades as a federal immigration agent under my belt, followed by experience volunteering in migrant shelters and most recently directing a large migrant shelter here in El Paso, I say with confidence: A secure border can be achieved through a balanced approach that effectively manages the flow of people and goods, ensuring robust security while also facilitating legitimate trade and travel.  

This approach should be underpinned by immigration policies that not only serve the best interests of our nation but also uphold fairness, order, and compassion for those seeking entry. 

For more on immigration policy changes in the first 100 days, don’t miss the Forum’s summary. 

News on the First 100 Days: 

Proposals to facilitate immigration 

Border security and expanded enforcement 

Rollback of humanitarian and legal pathways 

Due process and the courts 

Thanks for reading,  

Michael