Stephen A. Smith, a prominent ESPN commentator, has lauded President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policies, contrasting them with the more lenient approach of former President Joe Biden.
Smith's comments, made during his show "The Stephen A. Smith Show," underscore the conservative perspective that strict immigration control is essential for national security and economic stability.
According to the Daily Caller, Smith commended Trump's effectiveness in curbing illegal immigration, a stance that he believes will resonate with the American public. Trump's second term, which began on January 20, saw him sign several executive orders aimed at illegal immigration. These included the designation of certain gangs and cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of illegal immigrant gang members.
Smith stated, "When it comes to immigration enforcement, there is no doubt that Donald Trump has been successful. We can slice it any way we want to, but Joe Biden having an open border policy caused a lot of problems in this nation, particularly to the psyche of American citizens." He further criticized the notion of illegal border crossings, arguing that such actions do not bode well for American citizens.
Smith's comments come in the wake of data from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) showing that Biden's term saw the highest level of net migration in U.S. history. Approximately 8.5 million migrant encounters occurred along the U.S southern border from fiscal years 2021 to 2024.
Smith praised Trump's prioritization of border control, stating, "The fact that Trump rolled up in there and cleaned this stuff up, prioritizing border control, definitely is going to be perceived as a plus, whether Democrats and others like it or not." This sentiment aligns with the conservative viewpoint that strict border control is essential for maintaining national security and economic stability.
A fact sheet from the Trump White House published on Monday revealed a significant decrease in border crossings, migrant encounters, and "gotaways" during the first 100 days of Trump's administration. These figures were down by 93% or more, demonstrating the effectiveness of Trump's immigration policies.
Despite this, public opinion on Trump's handling of immigration remains divided. The RealClearPolling average shows a 47.8% approval rating and a 49.8% disapproval rating on the issue. A CNN poll conducted from April 17-24 found a 54% disapproval rating for Trump on immigration.
However, Republican strategist Scott Jennings believes that immigration remains Trump's "best issue." Speaking to CNN host Laura Coates, Jennings said, "I actually think its still their best issue, and I think when it all shakes out, what are they going to be able to say? Donald Trump effectively closed the southern border just by taking office and changing the attitude of the federal government."
Jennings' comments highlight the conservative belief that a strict stance on immigration is crucial for the country's wellbeing. This perspective, echoed by Smith, underscores the importance of maintaining strong border control and enforcing immigration laws to ensure national security and economic stability.
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