In a powerful ride-along segment aired on Law and Border for Real America’s Voice, Ben Bergquam offered viewers an unfiltered look at the U.S. Border Patrol’s changing priorities in McAllen, Texas — changes he attributes directly to President Trump’s return to power and a renewed national focus on border enforcement.
Bergquam was joined by Border Patrol Public Affairs Officer Christina Smallwood during a four-hour tracking mission, where dogs were used to follow footprints of a group suspected of illegally entering the country. Despite the effort, the individuals became “got-aways” — a term for illegal entrants who evade apprehension. Yet what stunned Bergquam wasn’t the escape — it was how rare such crossings had become.
“The craziest part is to consider that we were on the road for over four hours, and over that time there were only two groups of illegals,” Bergquam noted. “That’s unheard of under Biden.” He emphasized that under the prior administration, Border Patrol agents were often overwhelmed, unable to investigate tracks in the brush due to their time being consumed processing and releasing illegal migrants. “Now even the harder cases are investigated,” he added. “God bless Border Patrol! God bless President Trump!”
The ride-along revealed a Border Patrol force reinvigorated. Smallwood explained that during the Biden administration, the agency was bogged down with transport and release operations. Now, with Trump’s stricter policies taking hold again, they can do the work they signed up for — “chasing the bad guys.” She described the change as motivating and reaffirming for agents. “It feels good to get back on the ground,” she said. “We feel excited and proud.”
One striking moment came when Bergquam asked about critics who accuse immigration enforcement of being racist. Smallwood responded clearly: “The law has no race.” Her statement pushed back against what many agents see as unfair accusations from activist groups who oppose deportation and border security measures.
The video also highlighted the dramatic increase in manpower responding to illegal activity, something that would have been rare under Biden’s policies. Bergquam observed: “The response seemed pretty heavy compared to what I’m used to over the last four years.”
The data supports this trend. According to the latest statistics from NBC News and DHS, deportations and removals have surged under renewed Trump-aligned directives. During Trump’s previous term, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported over 267,000 individuals in FY2019 alone. The current pace is increasing again after record lows under Biden, when interior removals dropped sharply in favor of mass release policies.
As Bergquam’s footage makes clear, there’s a seismic shift underway at the southern border. The “catch and release” era appears to be ending, replaced by a renewed emphasis on enforcement, investigation, and deterrence. With trained dogs tracking footprints through the brush, agents say they finally feel like they’re back to doing the job they swore to do — protecting the border.
This on-the-ground reporting underscores a message echoed by millions of Americans: securing the border is not about race or politics — it’s about the rule of law.