The U.S. government just funneled another $12 billion to states for border enforcement, yet illegal crossings have plummeted this year—leaving many Americans wondering why we’re still footing the bill for a crisis that’s supposedly “under control.”
At a Glance
- Illegal border crossings have dropped to their lowest monthly total in three years.
- Congress approved $12 billion for states’ border enforcement—even as the crisis reportedly subsides.
- Texas stands to be reimbursed billions for its Operation Lone Star, while grants for migrant aid are being slashed.
- New executive orders have rapidly tightened southern border security and enforcement protocols.
Billions for Border Security—When the Crisis is “Solved”?
In a twist that would make any taxpayer’s head spin, the House recently rubber-stamped $12 billion for states to beef up their own border enforcement. The Senate chimed in with another $10 billion earmarked for border barriers and $3.5 billion to “reimburse” state and local governments for their immigration enforcement costs. Texas, naturally, is set to get a big slice of that pie, having burned through more than $11 billion on its Operation Lone Star since 2021. But here’s the kicker: at the very same time, new figures from Customs and Border Protection reveal a staggering drop in illegal crossings—down to just 11,017 in March 2025, the lowest in three years. So, with the numbers plummeting, why are we still writing blank checks?
Meanwhile, the Trump administration isn’t just doubling down—it’s launching a full-on policy blitz. On day one, President Trump signed a stack of executive orders aimed at “stopping the invasion,” his words, not mine. These new orders mandate a physical wall, relentless detention, and prompt removal of anyone caught in violation of immigration law. The Biden administration’s last-minute summer 2024 crackdown set the stage, but Trump’s first 100 days have been nothing short of a border enforcement arms race. So, if illegal crossings are already tanking, is this policy or performance art? Or maybe just a very expensive show of force for a crisis that the numbers say is already fizzling out?
Operation Lone Star: Texas Gets Its Payday
Texas is poised to cash in big. The House’s latest reconciliation bill all but guarantees a windfall for the Lone Star State, which has poured over $11 billion into Operation Lone Star since 2021. This controversial program—praised by some, derided by others—has seen Texas take border enforcement into its own hands, deploying state troopers, building barriers, and running detention facilities. Under the new funding formula, Texas and other states will be reimbursed for enforcement, detention, and prosecution costs dating back to January 2021. Critics argue it’s a payoff for states that went rogue during the federal government’s “catch and release” years. Supporters say it’s long-overdue recognition that Texas was left to fend for itself while Washington dithered.
This tidal wave of funding comes as the Trump administration slashes grants for programs that help newly arrived migrants. The message is clear: money for walls, not for welfare. The Senate bill even tried to give state and local officials the power to arrest any noncitizen suspected of being in the country illegally—a move the Parliamentarian flagged as a violation of reconciliation rules. But after a bit of legal hair-splitting, most of the funding provisions made the final cut. It’s a political Rube Goldberg machine, and the only thing that’s clear is that taxpayers are on the hook, no matter who’s holding the handcuffs.
Enforcement Success or Political Theater?
Numbers don’t lie, but politicians sure know how to spin them. Border apprehensions at entry have cratered—down 93% from April 2024 to April 2025. CBP credits “sustained deterrence and enforcement,” but skeptics see a political narrative designed to justify even more spending. Major operations like Florida’s “Operational Tidal Wave” brought in record numbers of arrests, but with the crisis allegedly waning, is this just a very expensive game of whack-a-mole? If the government’s own data shows the border is finally secure, why are we forking over billions to keep building barriers and running up the tab on enforcement? Where’s the accountability for all the years (and dollars) wasted while open borders policies reigned?
Trump’s executive orders leave nothing to the imagination: build the wall, detain everyone you can, and deport as fast as possible. There’s no more talk of “comprehensive reform.” It’s pure enforcement, no apologies. The administration has made it clear—no more blank checks for migrant aid, only for law and order. But for families who have watched inflation eat away their paychecks while the government spends their tax dollars faster than ever, the optics couldn’t be worse. We’re spending record amounts on a border crisis just as the crisis vanishes from the numbers. If that doesn’t make your head spin, nothing will.
