Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate floor, highlighting President Trump's efforts to secure national borders and address international threats. Thune emphasized Trump's decisive actions in response to illegal immigration and international security concerns.

"Mr. President, from the day he took office, President Trump made it clear that he would not hesitate to take action to deter our enemies and protect our nation," Thune stated. He criticized the previous administration for what he described as a "gaping hole in our national security" due to record-breaking illegal immigration at the southern border.

Thune praised Trump for fulfilling his campaign promise to tackle the border crisis, citing a significant reduction in illegal crossings. "In just two months his bold action to secure our border and enforce our immigration laws has led to a precipitous drop in illegal crossings at the southern border," Thune said.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shared by Thune, there were 11,709 encounters at the southern border in February under Trump's administration compared to 189,913 encounters during February of the previous year under President Biden's leadership.

On international matters, Thune noted Trump's assertive approach following attacks on U.S. forces by Iran-backed Houthis in the Middle East over recent months. He mentioned that air strikes ordered by Trump against Houthi targets marked a shift from previous strategies.

Thune also pointed out Trump's re-designation of Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization shortly after taking office and emphasized ongoing military actions aimed at halting their activities unless they cease attacks on U.S. interests.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for Trump's actions both domestically and internationally: "It’s this kind of decisive action that will encourage our enemies to think twice before menacing our nation or threatening our interests."