Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) declined to credit President Donald Trump’s immigration policies for the significant reduction in illegal border crossings, instead accusing the administration of violating U.S. law.
Murphy made the remarks during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, where he was asked about the sharp decrease in illegal entries over the past year.
U.S. Border Patrol reported approximately 8,725 illegal crossings in May 2025, representing a 93% drop from the 117,905 encounters recorded in May 2024.
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Despite the record decline, Murphy dismissed any notion that the Trump administration’s enforcement strategies were responsible.
“I don’t give them credit for that because border crossings are low because they’re violating the law every day,” Murphy told host Kristen Welker.
“So we have a law in this country that says if you are fleeing terror or torture from another country, you can come here and apply for asylum.”
Murphy alleged that the administration has halted the asylum process entirely, effectively barring individuals from pursuing legal refuge in the United States.
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He argued that the administration’s approach contradicts existing asylum laws and undermines the country’s legal framework.
“The Trump administration has suspended that law. They are not allowing anybody to come here to apply for asylum,” he said.
“We wrote that bipartisan bill last year to reform the asylum process, to make sure that only the right people are coming in and that we judge those cases expeditiously at the border.”
In 2024, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation intended to reform the asylum system by narrowing eligibility and accelerating adjudication timelines.
The bill was designed to discourage fraudulent claims while preserving protections for individuals fleeing genuine persecution.
Murphy acknowledged the reduction in illegal entries but claimed it had come at the expense of legal obligations.
“It’s true, there are very few people crossing on a daily basis, but that’s because the Trump administration is violating the law,” he said.
“And it should matter to every American that on so many facets, the Trump administration doesn’t care about the law.”
“This is becoming a lawless administration,” Murphy continued.
“We are on a road to see our democracy after feats of the point that it will be unrecognizable. And the border is just one example of many ways in which this administration doesn’t care about the law anymore.”
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has issued a series of executive orders and administrative actions aimed at restoring and strengthening border enforcement.
Among those efforts was the re-declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, resumption of border wall construction, implementation of expedited removal protocols, and diplomatic pressure on Mexico to increase its domestic enforcement efforts.
The contrast between current border figures and those seen during Joe Biden’s term has been stark.
During the Biden-Harris administration, U.S. border officials recorded some of the highest monthly illegal crossing numbers in the nation’s history, prompting widespread concern over national security, fentanyl trafficking, and immigration enforcement.
While the Trump administration has pointed to its renewed efforts as the driving force behind the sharp decline in illegal crossings, some lawmakers, including Murphy, have maintained that the methods employed raise legal and constitutional concerns.
As the administration continues to implement its immigration agenda, the debate over legal compliance and border security remains a point of contention between the White House and its critics in Congress.