ICYMI: Attorney General Alan Wilson joins national leaders at southern border to highlight strides made under Trump

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - On Wednesday, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, alongside fellow Republican attorneys general and federal and state law enforcement leaders, held a press conference at the southern border in Yuma, Arizona. The group provided an update on President Trump’s immigration-border policy, the expanded 287(g) program, discussed the administration’s early successes in curbing illegal border encounters, disrupting drug and fentanyl trafficking, and expanding key immigration enforcement initiatives dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave”. 

“For the last four years, we’ve been sinking under the weight of Biden’s weak border policies,” said Attorney General Wilson. President Trump is giving us the tools to fight back. Now, we’re not just bailing water, we’re taking control of the ship. From stopping deadly drugs at the border to backing local law enforcement with programs like 287(g), this administration is proving it puts the safety of our citizens above politics, and we’re proud to work with them.” 

Attorney General Wilson emphasized the substantial strides made in just three months under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on border security and state-federal cooperation. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Expanding 287(g) in South Carolina: One of the most significant developments is the expansion of the 287(g) program in South Carolina. Under this federal initiative, local law enforcement is deputized to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties. Since President Trump took office, the number of participating sheriff’s departments in South Carolina has grown from 2 to 20, dramatically increasing the state’s capacity to identify and detain criminal illegal aliens. 

• Fighting the Fentanyl Crisis:  With fentanyl flooding across the southern border, South Carolina is taking aggressive steps to protect its citizens. In addition to federal efforts, South Carolina just passed the Fentanyl-Induced Homicide Act, which allows anyone who distributes fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance to be charged with homicide.  

• Legal Leadership in Defending Border: In April 2025, the state led a 27-state amicus brief supporting President Trump’s authority to deport Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members, a violent transnational criminal organization. In March 2024, South Carolina filed a brief supporting Texas’ right to enforce its own immigration law, defending the state’s ability to protect its borders against a challenge brought by the Biden administration.