June 2025 saw the lowest number of illegal border crossings in U.S. history, contradicting criticism from LA Mayor Karen Bass
ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz surprised viewers Sunday by acknowledging that President Donald Trump’s border policies are “certainly working” to reduce illegal immigration, contradicting claims made by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
During a segment on ABC’s weekend programming, Raddatz aired an interview with Bass in which the mayor strongly criticized the Trump administration’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles. Bass described a climate of fear, stating:
“When the raids started, fear spread like a virus across the county.”
However, Raddatz followed up the interview with her own assessment of what she had personally witnessed at the southern border.
“We were down on that border, and it is dramatically, dramatically different than it was a year ago,” she said. “Whatever they’re doing is certainly working at the border itself.”
Raddatz Pushes Back on Bass’s Critique
When asked by Raddatz whether the Trump administration had done anything positive in its first six months, Bass praised the federal response to devastating fires in January. But on immigration, she remained critical:
“I don’t think so. I think the viewpoint has been punitive—make it as miserable as possible so that people don’t come.”
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), June 2025 saw the fewest southern border crossings ever recorded—just 25,228 nationwide, including only 8,024 illegal entries between ports of entry. Both numbers represent historic lows.
Contrast With Biden-Era Numbers
The Trump administration’s figures stand in sharp contrast to those under President Biden. December 2023 recorded more than 251,000 encounters at the southern border—the highest monthly total in U.S. history, according to The Heritage Foundation.
Raddatz’s remarks add weight to claims by immigration policy supporters that Trump’s enforcement-heavy approach is reversing years of record border surges.
Mayor’s Office Responds
In response to the ABC segment, Zachary Seidl, Deputy Mayor for Communications for Bass, told Fox News Digital that he didn’t see a contradiction between the two viewpoints.
“I don’t think Martha fact-checked the Mayor or even disagreed – it looks like Martha was talking about what she’s seen at the border and the Mayor was responding to a different question about what she’s seen in L.A.”
Still, Raddatz’s on-air comments signal a growing recognition—even in traditionally critical media circles—that Trump’s immigration crackdown is delivering measurable results.
