President Trump will host a roundtable at the White House to discuss the achievements of Homeland Security Task Forces in combating criminal cartels and human trafficking.
President Donald Trump is set to host a roundtable at the White House on Thursday afternoon, bringing together law enforcement and administration officials to review the accomplishments of the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs). These task forces were established on the president’s first day in office as part of a concerted effort to combat threats posed by criminal cartels operating within the United States.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson spoke to Fox News Digital about the significance of the event, stating, “The President’s Homeland Security Task Forces are a landmark achievement that highlight what the federal government can achieve with a leader like President Trump who is willing to slash red tape, increase coordination and put the safety of the American people first.” She emphasized that the Trump administration has made significant strides in removing lethal drugs, illegal weapons, and dangerous individuals from American communities, asserting that “the American people are safer today because of the HSTFs — and they’re just getting started.”
The creation of the HSTFs was formalized through an executive order titled “Protecting the American People from Invasion,” issued on January 20. This order directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to establish task forces in each state, focusing on dismantling cartels and human trafficking networks operating on U.S. soil.
The executive order outlined several key objectives for the task forces, including the eradication of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations throughout the United States. It also aimed to dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks, with a particular emphasis on protecting children from such offenses. The order called for the utilization of all available law enforcement tools to enforce U.S. immigration laws effectively.
During Thursday’s roundtable, administration officials will provide updates on the progress made by the task forces. Notable attendees will include Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, Secretary Noem, Attorney General Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Reports indicate that the task forces became fully operational nationwide at the end of August and have since resulted in thousands of arrests, as well as the removal of dangerous drugs and illegal firearms from U.S. streets. According to sources, more than 3,000 foreign terrorists and cartel members have been apprehended, including individuals affiliated with notorious gangs such as the Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13, and Cartel Jalisco Nuevo Generacion.
In addition to arrests, the task forces have recovered approximately two million fentanyl pills and seven tons of other deadly narcotics. They have also seized $3 million in currency and confiscated over 1,000 illegal firearms from communities across the country.
Trump’s campaign has prominently featured the promise to remove violent illegal immigrants and reduce crime in U.S. communities. In a speech before Congress in March 2025, he highlighted the dangers posed by cartels, stating, “The territory to the immediate south of our border is now dominated entirely by criminal cartels that murder, rape, torture and exercise total control. They have total control over a whole nation, posing a grave threat to our national security.” He declared, “The cartels are waging war in America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels.”
The upcoming roundtable coincides with ongoing military operations targeting suspected drug cartel vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. These strikes, which began in September, are part of Trump’s broader strategy to dismantle transnational cartels through force.
Earlier this month, Trump held a similar roundtable at the White House, inviting independent journalists who have experienced violence from Antifa to share their stories. This event was part of the administration’s efforts to address protests outside immigration facilities and the recent designation of Antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization.”
As the roundtable approaches, the administration continues to emphasize its commitment to combating the threats posed by criminal organizations and ensuring the safety of American citizens.
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