From the heart of the executive power in the United States, President Donald Trump presided over a ceremony in the Oval Office to present the newly created Mexican Border Defense Medal (Mexican Border Defense Medal).
This recognition, conceived as a symbol of the tightening of immigration policies during his second term, was awarded to thirteen members of the U.S. military who have directly collaborated with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in surveillance and security tasks at the southern border.
Accompanied by Tom Homan -appointed by Trump as his "border czar"-, and by Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, the president also distributed commemorative coins to the awardees and praised their role in the "defense of American sovereignty."
The official narrative: A border under control
According to an official statement released by the White House, the medal symbolizes what they describe as a “historic border victory” attributed to Trump's leadership.
In the words of the document:
"Today, President Donald J. Trump will award the newly created Medal of Border Defense of Mexico to members of the U.S. military for their extraordinary work in safeguarding the southern border of our nation and defending American sovereignty."
The text emphasizes that, under the current administration, the border between the United States and Mexico has undergone "a profound transformation," achieving levels of security "unprecedented in decades," by curbing what they call "the invasion unleashed by the Biden administration."
A list of "achievements" under his second term
The White House specified in the statement a detailed list of what it considers tangible progress in immigration control and national security.
Among them are:
-Expulsion of more than 2.5 million undocumented immigrants.
-Zero releases within the country for seven consecutive months.
-Reduction of illegal border crossings to the lowest level since 1970.
Negative net migration, an unprecedented situation in over fifty years.
Successful operations in "sanctuary cities" such as Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Boston, resulted in the deportation of thousands of immigrants with criminal records.
-Monthly decrease in overdose deaths, attributed to a reported reduction in the trafficking of fentanyl.
Rescue of more than 62,000 migrant children who, according to the statement, were reported missing during the previous administration.
-Promulgation of the Laken Riley Law, which mandates the detention of illegal immigrants accused of violent crimes.
-Claims of national employment growth, with over 2.5 million native Americans entering the labor market, while more than one million foreign workers lost their jobs.
-17% decrease in new foreign students at universities.
-Strengthening of background check controls for foreign workers.
The political discourse behind the medal
Beyond the symbol of the award, the event is part of an aggressive political narrative that seeks to contrast the current administration with that of former President Joe Biden.
“All we needed was a new president”, the official text emphasized.
Executive decisions were also highlighted, such as the reimplementation of the "Remain in Mexico" program, the resumption of border wall construction, the end of the "catch and release" policy, the cancellation of the use of the CBP One application, and the suspension of the Refugee Admission Program.
Additionally, it was the declaration of the main transnational criminal organizations—such as MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, among others—as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
This classification paves the way for harsher legal measures against its members and support networks.
The statement concluded with a mention of the law promoted by Trump, nicknamed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” presented as “the largest investment in border security in U.S. history.”
Conclusion: Symbol of a broader agenda
The Border Defense Medal with Mexico not only recognizes military service but also becomes an emblem of Donald Trump's political crusade surrounding immigration.
By linking this distinction to a package of executive and legislative actions, the White House aims to establish an image of restored order and reaffirmed sovereignty at a time when border security is once again at the forefront of presidential discourse.
The event held this Monday at the White House was a reminder that, for the Trump administration, the southern border is not just a geographical line: it is a political axis, an electoral banner, and a symbolic ground where its promises of a strong, secure, and exclusive nation are put to the test.
Filed under:
