Outgoing ICE Acting Director P.J. Lechleitner has delivered a scathing critique of President Biden's border policies, accusing the administration of waiting too long to address escalating border security concerns in an interview with NBC News. Lechleitner specifically called out Biden's June executive order, which permits turning away some asylum-seekers only when daily crossings exceed 2,500—a threshold he labeled as woefully inadequate given the scope of the crisis.

Meantime, President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up to take a starkly different approach, pledging to reinstate stringent measures like the "Remain in Mexico" policy and expedite the construction of additional border wall sections. Central to this overhaul is Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming Border Czar and former acting ICE Director. Known for his uncompromising stance on immigration, Homan has outlined a robust plan that includes enhancing surveillance technologies, increasing personnel, and expanding detention facilities to handle surges at the border. Homan has repeatedly criticized what he sees as the Biden administration’s "ineffective" and fragmented policies. He advocates for closing asylum loopholes, expediting deportations, and forging stronger collaborations with state and local law enforcement. Additionally, he intends to pursue international agreements to address the root causes of migration. While Biden’s team defends their approach as humane and realistic, the ongoing border crisis—with record-high crossings and overwhelmed resources—has drawn bipartisan criticism. Trump’s incoming administration seeks to leverage this discontent to implement sweeping reforms that could significantly reshape U.S. border policy.