The White House has launched its “First 100 Days” briefing series with a sharp focus on immigration and the southern border, choosing an unusually early hour to set the tone. At 8:30 a.m., Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to the podium in what marked a notable shift in schedule from the previous administration.
Such early morning briefings were rarely seen under President Biden, and if continued, could provide a welcome news boost to the day’s political coverage from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
On the North Lawn of the White House, just beyond the so-called Pebble Beach where television networks set up their cameras, posters depicting illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes—including murder, rape, and child sexual assault—had been displayed for the press and visitors to see.
Later today, President Trump is expected to sign executive orders on law and order, including one on sanctuary cities that will allow America’s law enforcement to pursue illegal immigrants with criminal records. The executive order on sanctuary cities, according to Leavitt, will be “centered around protecting American communities from criminal aliens, and it will direct the attorney general and secretary of homeland security to publish a list of state and local jurisdictions that have shucked the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Tom Homan, the newly appointed border czar, joined the briefing to deliver an update on border enforcement and the latest actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since President Trump returned to office.
According to Homan, the Trump administration has deported 139,000 people so far. “The numbers are good,” he said.
The border czar declared that no president has taken more decisive action against illegal immigrants than Donald Trump, accusing former President Biden of having opened the border “on purpose.” Leavitt shared at the top of the briefing that, according to their estimates, more than 10 million illegal aliens have entered the U.S. in the past four years.
Homan revealed at the briefing that Texas military base Fort Bliss in El Paso could be ready “in the very near future” to hold the illegal immigrant detainees.
“Fort Bliss is being ramped up,” he said.
“We just arrested a judge,” Tom Homan said, referring to the Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan in what appeared as an example to anyone who tries to do the same. “When you cross that line to impediment,” said Homan, “you will be prosecuted, judge or not.”
It was shared at the briefing that El Salvador has no intention of returning Kilmar Ábrego García to the U.S.
Leavitt said that Trump has restarted construction of the border wall, with 85 miles of new barrier in various stages of construction and planning.
Tomorrow, Leavitt will hold another 8:30 a.m. ET morning briefing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with a focus on the economy.
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