When you have a leader who means business things change very quickly.
Veterans who have volunteered to help secure the southern border in California have witnessed a stark transformation since President Donald Trump took office in January. These veterans, who have dedicated their time and resources to repairing breaches in the border barrier, say the change under the Biden administration is night and day compared to the Trump years.
Kate Monroe, a Marine Corps veteran and the founder of Border Vets, a group of U.S. military veterans working to secure the border, emphasized this shift. “The difference between what we saw during the Biden administration and what’s happening under Trump is incredible,” she said. Monroe, along with her team of veterans, has patched up numerous gaps in the border wall, particularly in Southern California, a region that has long seen high numbers of illegal crossings.
Trump’s administration made securing the southern border a top priority, fulfilling a promise that became a cornerstone of his 2016 campaign and is again central to his 2024 bid. The results speak for themselves. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that illegal border crossings dropped significantly in February, with only 8,300 encounters recorded—the lowest monthly total since 2000. This marks a sharp contrast to the previous year, when nearly 30,000 encounters occurred in February 2023, and an even more significant decline from the staggering 130,000 encounters in February 2024.
Veterans with Border Vets, who patrol areas near Jacumba Hot Springs, California, have noticed a dramatic drop in illegal crossings. Monroe, who was a Republican candidate for California’s 49th Congressional District in 2024, personally took the initiative last year to close a notorious gap in the border barrier known as the “San Judas Break.” At that time, more than 3,000 migrants were crossing weekly through this breach. Monroe and her team quickly constructed a makeshift barrier of razor wire, closing off the area to stop the influx of illegal border crossings.
Monroe’s actions gained widespread attention and led to the founding of Border Vets, a group that has since helped seal multiple gaps along California’s border. CBP agents have praised the group’s contributions, as the veterans’ hands-on approach has led to a noticeable decrease in illegal activity in areas that were once heavily trafficked. One Border Vet volunteer, a former Marine, remarked, “Things are getting better at the border,” a sentiment echoed by several others in the group.
The once-busy border areas near Jacumba Hot Springs now show little activity. At one point, makeshift shelters erected by NGOs to house migrants sit empty, a direct result of the decreasing numbers of people attempting to cross illegally. Monroe credits this shift to Trump’s border policies, which she believes have been effective in restoring national security.
The men and women of Border Vets remain vigilant. Despite the progress, they continue to monitor soft spots along the border to ensure that the number of illegal crossings stays low. As one Navy veteran from Border Vets put it, “Secure the border, plain and simple. An open border policy has been nothing but a detriment to the country.”
The contrast between the two administrations couldn’t be clearer. Under Trump, the border saw real progress, making the U.S. safer and more secure. Under Biden, the situation has deteriorated, costing the country in terms of security and resources. The hard work of volunteers like those in Border Vets is making a difference, but the fight for a secure border is far from over.