Former Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged in a new interview that former President Donald Trump was “right” about the importance of border security — a rare admission from a top Democrat who says his party failed to act decisively on immigration.
Speaking on the BBC’s Reflections podcast, Kerry said Democrats allowed the U.S. southern border to come “under siege” and that President Biden missed key opportunities to show stronger leadership on immigration enforcement.
“The first thing any president, or anyone in public life, should say is: without a protected border, you don’t have a nation,” Kerry said. “I believe that. I wish President Biden had said more often, ‘I’m going to enforce the law.’”
Kerry, who served as climate envoy under Biden and was Secretary of State during the Obama administration, told the BBC’s James Naughtie that he had personally warned Biden that the Democratic Party was losing credibility on the border issue.
“They just allowed the border to be under siege,” Kerry added.
When Naughtie pointed out that Trump would likely use his remarks to validate his long-standing immigration stance, Kerry replied plainly:
“He was right. The problem is, we all should have been right — all moving in the same direction.”
Kerry Criticizes Missed Opportunities on Immigration
Kerry’s comments mark a striking public break from the narrative often pushed by his party in recent years. While Democrats have supported immigration reform, Kerry noted that the party misread the urgency of the border crisis and allowed political gridlock to define their response.
He also referenced an immigration bill Democrats backed that Trump and many Republicans opposed — suggesting that in hindsight, the party’s approach lacked the tough enforcement posture Americans were demanding.
Kerry Reflects on Biden’s Re-Election Timing
Kerry was also asked if Biden’s recent decision not to seek re-election would have been better made earlier.
“I think in retrospect that’s pretty clear — it answers itself,” he said, though he declined to speculate on what Biden knew or when.
Despite the criticism, Kerry praised Biden’s overall record:
“He’s my friend, and he did a hell of a job. I don’t think he’s gotten enough credit for what a great president he was.”
Trump’s Border Crackdown in Full Swing
Trump, now in his second term, has doubled down on immigration enforcement, launching widespread deportations and increasing border security. His administration has set record lows for illegal border crossings, according to new data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Between June 1 and June 22, CBP recorded just 5,414 apprehensions at the border — the lowest in history — with only 986 known “gotaways.” For comparison, May 2024 saw nearly 9,000 crossings, down sharply from approximately 118,000 in May 2023 under Biden.
Trump has also toured new detention facilities, including one in Florida dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Kerry’s remarks are likely to add fuel to the political debate over immigration — and give Trump’s allies new ammunition as they tout his approach to border enforcement.
