Bluff City Briefing

This morning, Air Force One touched down at Memphis International Airport an hour before President Donald Trump held a roundtable highlighting the ongoing success of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Memphis

“We brought together 22 federal agencies, state and local police, and 1,500 members of the incredible National Guard to smash the grip of the violent criminals on this iconic American city,” said President Trump.

After years of rampant crime, the president touted that Memphis has experienced a 60 percent drop in robberies, a 74 percent drop in carjackings, a 70 percent reduction in murders at its peak, 7,000 criminal arrests, the seizure of more than 1,100 illegal guns, the confiscation of 1,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, and the recovery of 150 missing children.

“This catastrophe was a result of years of local politicians, judges, and prosecutors who sided with violent criminals over law-abiding citizens,” said President Trump.

Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller—who has been helping coordinate the task force and draft immigration legislation alongside Tennessee lawmakers—called it a “national miracle that will be studied.”

Dalisia Ballinger, a lifelong Memphian and mother, tearfully expressed her gratitude to President Trump for revitalizing the city of soul. Ballinger explained how the rise in crime stole her children’s ability to have a childhood: “The fear of stray bullets, the sounds of gunshots at night, constantly wondering if they were truly safe—that fear became real in a way that no mother should ever have to experience.”

ICE in Airports

The president also mentioned his recent decision to place ICE agents in airports. Starting today, 13 U.S. airports will add ICE officers at TSA checkpoints. The idea may have originated from a listener who called in to a Nashville-based talk radio program, “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show."

During last Friday’s show, a caller named Linda suggested that ICE agents should be placed in airports. Friday night, Clay talked about the idea while making an appearance on Fox News. President Trump announced his plan to place ICE agents at airports on Saturday afternoon.

“The Democrats have caused lots of problems at the airports and all other places too,” said President Trump during today’s roundtable. “We shouldn't be in this position, especially when we're in conflict elsewhere.”

Though Tennessee airports are not currently coordinating with ICE agents, the president asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons how things were going. “We're going to make sure that your promise is kept, that we're going to help those lines move, and we're going to make people safe,” assured Lyons. “No one should be nervous to go to the airport.”