Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has openly criticized his own Democratic Party for letting the U.S.-Mexico border fall into chaos during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
The crux of this story is Kerry’s admission to the BBC that Democrats dropped the ball on immigration, allowing the border to be “under siege” and handing a political win to Republicans like Donald Trump, while recent enforcement actions and legal battles highlight the deep divide on this issue.
Kerry, who also ran as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 and served as a Massachusetts senator, didn’t hold back in his chat with BBC correspondent James Naughtie.
He pointed out that the party has been missing the mark on immigration for years. This isn’t just a slip-up; it’s a systemic failure that’s cost them dearly in the public eye.
“Trump was right,” Kerry declared, a statement that must sting for any progressive loyalist. But let’s unpack that: he’s not endorsing every Trump policy, just admitting that the border mess became a glaring weak spot under Biden. Conservatives have long argued that without firm enforcement, national sovereignty is just a buzzword.
Kerry also lamented, “I wish President Biden had been heard more often saying, I’m going to enforce the law.” That’s a gut punch to the administration’s messaging, which often leaned into softer, more humanitarian tones on immigration. Many on the right see this as proof that prioritizing optics over action left the border vulnerable.
Indeed, the downward trend in illegal border crossings started late in Biden’s term after some asylum rules were tightened. Yet, Kerry’s critique suggests this was too little, too late. The Republican narrative, amplified by Trump, capitalized on years of perceived Democratic inaction.
Fast forward to Trump’s second term, and the numbers tell a story: illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped to near record lows in the first six months.
But the administration’s focus has shifted inward, targeting undocumented migrants nationwide, even those who’ve lived here for years. This pivot has conservatives cheering for law and order, though it raises questions about community impact.
In Los Angeles, a recent operation in MacArthur Park saw armed federal agents and California National Guard troops sweeping through on foot, horseback, and in armored vehicles.
It’s the kind of scene that fuels accusations of overreach. While some see this as necessary enforcement, others view it as a deliberate show of force.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass didn’t mince words, calling it “a political agenda of provoking fear and terror.” That’s a charged take, but from a conservative lens, it’s hard to ignore that public safety and legal accountability must start somewhere. Still, the optics of militarized operations in urban centers are a tough sell for many Americans.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles and seven other California cities joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming these federal immigration actions are unlawful.
California’s state government has thrown its weight behind the suit with a supportive brief. This legal skirmish echoes past Democratic strategies during Trump’s first term, when policies like family separations at the border sparked national outrage.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta described it as a “cruel and familiar pattern of attacks on our immigrant communities.” While the sentiment resonates with progressive circles, conservatives might argue that enforcing existing laws isn’t cruelty—it’s consistency. The debate over fairness versus firmness rages on.
Meanwhile, mass demonstrations have erupted in cities like Los Angeles, reflecting the raw tension over Trump’s hardline stance.
Many Democrats push for relaxed immigration laws and citizenship pathways, painting Trump’s policies as overly harsh. Yet, with border security a top Republican talking point in recent years, the administration seems confident they hold the public’s trust on this issue.
Trump himself weighed in on Wednesday, scoffing at a Democratic congressional push to stop immigration officers from hiding their identities. “This is the problem with the Democrats,” he quipped, suggesting they’ve “lost their confidence.” It’s a classic Trump jab—sharp, dismissive, and aimed at portraying his opponents as out of touch with practical governance.