Bernie Sanders admits Trump is right about border crackdown, says Democrats 'should’ve done better'

WASHINGTON, DC: Bernie Sanders, of all people, just gave President Donald Trump a rare nod of approval when it comes to the border security and fentanyl crackdown.

The Vermont senator and progressive firebrand told ABC’s 'This Week' in an episode aired on Sunday, March 23, that Trump’s tough stance on fentanyl and border security was the right move.

He also admitted that Democrats completely dropped the ball on illegal immigration under former president Joe Biden. 

Bernie Sanders agrees with Donald Trump on border crackdown

Bernie Sanders sat down with host Jon Karl to talk about a range of issues. At one point, he was asked whether there were any things Donald Trump had done right since taking office.

"I mean, I think cracking down on fentanyl, making sure our borders are stronger," Sanders told Karl, essentially admitting that Trump was right to take a hard line.

"Look, nobody thinks illegal immigration is appropriate," he declared. "And I happen to think we need comprehensive immigration reform, but I don't think that it's appropriate for people to be coming across the border illegally. So we've got to work now on comprehensive immigration reform." 

It's worth noting that back in 2020, Sanders was all about breaking up ICE and CBP, hitting pause on deportations, scrapping the border wall, and decriminalizing illegal crossings. He even backed ending limits on federal funding for sanctuary cities. 

However, Sanders still isn’t on board with Trump’s extreme crackdown. He warned that if Trump were to deport "20 million people who are in this country who are undocumented," it would "destroy the entire country."

"Because I got news for you: Trump's billionaire friends are not going to pick the crops in California that feed us," Sanders said, making his point crystal clear.

"They're not going to work in meat-packing houses. That's what undocumented people are doing. So we need a variety of programs, guest worker programs, but mostly comprehensive immigration reform," he added. 

Karl then pointed out that illegal immigration "exploded under Biden." 

Sanders didn’t even try to dodge it. "Should have done much better, no argument," he admitted.

AOC joins Bernie Sanders in his 'Fighting Oligarchy Tour'

Despite his unexpected praise for Donald Trump’s border policies, Bernie Sanders is still pushing his progressive agenda hard. He’s been crisscrossing the country on his "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" and he had a powerhouse ally by his side last week—none other than Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). 

The duo hit up five events in Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado, rallying their base and calling for economic justice.  

At a rally at Arizona State University, AOC fired up the crowd with a message of unity.

"No matter who you voted for in the past, no matter if you know all the right words to say, no matter your race, religion, gender identity or status," she declared.

"No matter even if you disagree with me on a few things, if you are willing to fight for someone you don’t know, you are welcome here," she added.

The border today is a whole different story

The US-Mexico border today looks nothing like it did just a couple of years ago. Back then, it was absolute chaos with hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing every month, overwhelmed shelters, and a political firestorm.

But now, it’s a completely different picture. Illegal crossings have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades. Shelters that were once packed are now practically empty. And instead of surging north, many migrants in Mexico are actually heading back home.

The Trump administration has doubled down on hardline tactics. They have effectively choked off migration by shutting down asylum requests at the border indefinitely, deploying troops not just to catch but also to deter border crossers, cranking up deportation flights, and leaning on Latin American governments (especially Mexico) to curb migration.

The results are jaw-dropping, to say the least. Back in December 2023, US Border Patrol reported a staggering 225,000 apprehensions at the border. Fast-forward to February, and that number dropped to just 8,347, according to The New York Times.