For many Hispanic Americans, especially those living across the border states, the Biden presidency was marked by growing despair and disorder. Border crossings surged to record highs, inflation eroded the value of every paycheck, and confidence in the economy fell. Basic institutions began to feel hollow. Even many Democrats started asking whether things were better under the last administration. It turns out, a lot of them thought the answer was yes.
President Donald Trump returned to office with a mandate — not just from conservatives, but from working- and middle-class voters across all backgrounds and ethnicities — to restore order and a sense of seriousness to federal governance. In his first 100 days, he has done just that. Whether you measure by executive action, economic indicators, or border enforcement, these first few months have been marked by clarity of purpose and swift execution.
The most urgent crisis Trump inherited was the border. Under former President Joe Biden, illegal crossings reached all-time highs. Communities along the southern border were stretched thin, and the rule of law was quietly replaced by radical lawlessness. That has changed. Since January, illegal crossings have dropped by 95%, and the number of “gotaways” — migrants who evade capture entirely — has fallen by 99%. New executive orders have tightened asylum rules, prioritized the deportation of criminal aliens, and shut down Biden’s failed CBP One app. The result: historic lows in daily apprehensions and a renewed sense of control.
For Hispanic Americans, especially those of us with deep ties to the border region, this isn’t a theoretical issue. A functional immigration system is essential to public safety, economic growth, and legal immigration itself. When the law is enforced consistently, it affirms the sacrifices of every immigrant who followed the rules.
Then, there’s the economy. For too long, inflation punished the very people who play by the rules — people with modest incomes, savings accounts, and fixed expenses. In just three months, gas prices have fallen 7%, prescription drug prices have declined more than 2% (the largest monthly drop ever recorded), and wholesale egg prices are down nearly 50%. At the same time, inflation has fallen two months in a row, something that didn’t happen once during Biden’s final year.
Meanwhile, wages are finally outpacing costs. Real hourly earnings for working-class Americans are up, especially in manufacturing and service sectors. More than 345,000 jobs have been created since January — most in private industry, not government. That includes 27,000 construction jobs and 9,000 manufacturing jobs, reversing two years of losses under the previous administration. And the veteran unemployment rate has dropped as well, down to 3.8%.
On the fiscal side, the administration is moving aggressively to cut wasteful spending and restore economic sanity. A rollback of un-finalized Biden-era rules alone is projected to save American families over $180 billion — more than $2,000 per household over the next decade. In total, Trump’s early deregulatory efforts are expected to save nearly $11,000 per family. Those aren’t just numbers; it’s real money.
For many in the Hispanic community — particularly in industries such as construction, caregiving, and small business — these changes are already making a difference. More take-home pay means more savings, more investment in our families, and greater independence from the state.
The administration has also launched the most sweeping deregulation effort in modern history. Federal agencies are now required to eliminate 10 rules for every new one they propose, an expansion of the “two-for-one” rule from Trump’s first term. Already, this effort is unlocking growth across the economy, from energy and agriculture to transportation and manufacturing.
One area where Trump has shown unusual courage is in addressing the ideological overgrowth of federal agencies. His executive order removing diversity, equity, and inclusion officers from government payrolls is not about ignoring America’s pluralism; it’s about reaffirming merit, fairness, and institutional neutrality. DEI programs had become a shell game for bureaucratic bloat and ideological posturing. Their removal is a step toward restoring trust in our public institutions.
Even the military is seeing a turnaround. The U.S. Army just recorded its highest recruitment numbers in over a decade. While that trend began under the previous administration, Trump has embraced it, expanding training capacity and reinforcing the idea that serving our country is a noble path.
Meanwhile, the president’s early commitment to government transparency and merit-based hiring is helping rebuild confidence in how Washington operates. With over 30 executive orders signed and 28 pieces of legislation enacted — more than any president since Harry Truman — this is shaping up to be one of the most productive opening stretches of any modern presidency.
TRUMP’S PUSH FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND AGAINST QUOTAS
Trump earned the highest share of the Hispanic vote of any Republican in history this past November, and he’s governing accordingly. His agenda isn’t tailored to one group or another; it’s built around the timeless values that unite Americans of every background: public safety, economic prosperity, and pride in our country. For Hispanic Americans like myself, this moment affirms what many of us already knew: We don’t need pandering or special treatment; we need strong leadership.
Trump’s first 100 days haven’t just reversed the damage of the last four years; they’ve reminded us what serious governance looks like. And for the first time in a while, the country feels like it’s headed in the right direction.
Abraham Enriquez is the founder and president of Bienvenido, a national organization dedicated to engaging and mobilizing Hispanic Americans around pro-freedom, pro-family, and pro-America values.