A recent Gallup poll reveals that surveyed Americans have the highest expectation for President-elect Donald Trump's ability to control illegal immigration in his upcoming second term.

According to the survey, 68% of U.S. adults predict that Trump will succeed in this area, marking the strongest confidence in his performance across all policy goals measured.

This result highlights the enduring significance of immigration reform in Trump's platform as he prepares for his return to the Oval Office.

We’ve discussed previously Trump’s 1) ambition to complete the U.S.-Mexico border wall and 2) his day-one executive orders. Today, we’re exploring one method he’ll employ…

Your Rundown for Friday, January 10, 2025...

Mobilizing Troops to Address the Border Crisis

During his first term, President Trump took decisive action to secure America’s southern border, deploying the National Guard to assist in stemming the tide of illegal immigration.

In April 2018, Trump authorized the deployment of up to 4,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, working in cooperation with border states to address what he termed the “crisis” of illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

(This decision was not without precedent, by the way, as both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama utilized National Guard troops to bolster border security efforts.)

The results of Trump's National Guard deployment were significant… 

• The National Guard’s assistance in surveillance, logistics and administrative tasks freed up valuable resources and manpower for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agents to fulfill their primary duties – intercepting illegal border crossers as well as illicit drug shipments.

• Statistics from the time indicate that there was a notable decline in illegal crossings during the deployment period. Reports show a drop in apprehensions along the border, suggesting that the increased military presence deterred some illegal immigrants from attempting to cross.

Now, as Trump gears up for his second term, he’s already signaled his intention to take an even more aggressive stance on border security.

For instance, he proposes expanding the role of the military in border protection, suggesting the possibility of deploying active-duty troops in addition to the National Guard.

This approach underscores Trump's commitment to using all available resources to address what he – and voters – see as a critical national-security issue.

Team Trump views these measures as essential for protecting American communities and reforming the integrity of the nation’s immigration system.

And the success of the previous National Guard deployment in enhancing border security provides a successful blueprint for Trump to build upon in a second term.

Market Rundown for Friday, Jan. 10, 2025

S&P 500 futures are down 0.25% to 5,945.

Oil is rallying 3.75% to $79.70 for a barrel of WTI.

Gold’s up 0.50% to $2,704.70 per ounce.

Like oil, Bitcoin’s rallying – up 3.40% – but still under $95k.