Trump Claims “Safest Border in History” and Historic Low Crime Amid DHS Funding Standoff
President Donald Trump asserted on Friday that the United States currently possesses “the safest border in the history of our country,” issuing a robust defense of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) even as a government shutdown looms over agency funding. The President’s remarks were amplified by the White House’s “Rapid Response” team following a briefing where he also claimed national crime rates have reached a 125-year low.
Presidential Claims and Data Context
“If you look at DHS, if you look at what they’ve done… we have the safest border in the history of our country,” Trump stated, according to a transcript released by the @RapidResponse47 account. He tied this assertion to broader domestic security achievements, adding, “It was just announced our crime numbers are the best in 125 years. So I am here to protect law enforcement.”
The administration has heavily promoted recent enforcement metrics, with allied media outlets recently citing a streak of “zero illegal border crossings” for nine consecutive months—a figure the White House cites as validation of its restrictive second-term immigration policies. The President’s reference to crime statistics likely points to recent FBI or DOJ preliminary data, which the administration argues validates its “law and order” mandate.
Opposition and Critical Analysis
The President’s praise for DHS performance stands in stark contrast to the immediate fiscal reality: the agency faces a potential shutdown due to a legislative impasse. Critics and opposition lawmakers argue that threatening the funding of the very agency credited with securing the border is counterintuitive. “If the border is secure and crime is down, holding DHS funding hostage creates an unnecessary crisis,” noted one Democratic congressional aide.
Furthermore, immigration experts and fact-checking organizations have previously scrutinized the “safest border” narrative. While encounter numbers may have dropped significantly under strict enforcement measures, humanitarian groups report that “zero crossings” data often obscures the number of asylum seekers turned away at ports of entry or those crossing in remote, unmonitored areas. Similarly, criminologists frequently caution that “125-year low” crime claims may rely on incomplete reporting from major cities or specific sub-categories of violent crime rather than aggregate national totals.
Background on Administration Strategy
The quote was circulated by “Rapid Response 47,” a specialized social media arm of the Trump White House established in January 2025 to bypass traditional media filters and disseminate administration talking points directly to supporters. This communication strategy comes during a high-stakes week for the administration; beyond the DHS funding fight, the White House is currently navigating diplomatic tensions with Canada regarding the ownership and operation of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The President’s linkage of border security to domestic crime rates remains a central pillar of his political platform as he navigates the second year of his term.
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