Trump Hosts Roundtable on Homeland Security Task Forces' Success Against Cartels, Human Trafficking

President Donald Trump hosted a roundtable with key law enforcement and administration officials to discuss the successes of the Homeland Security Task Forces, which he established on his first day back in office to combat criminal cartels, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal immigration in the United States. The task forces have achieved historic lows in border apprehensions and have deported over 500,000 illegal immigrants since January, with more than 1.6 million self-deporting. Trump characterized the cartels as the "ISIS of the Western Hemisphere" due to their extreme violence and extensive armaments, emphasizing the administration's commitment to dismantle these organizations. The roundtable included officials such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The administration also reported striking drug smuggling vessels and warned of potential congressional requests for authorization to conduct land-based operations against cartels. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson praised the task forces as a landmark achievement that has made American communities safer by removing lethal drugs, illegal weapons, terrorists, and cartel members.