Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode Title: 480,000 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in 9 Months plus Portland Showdown BIG WIN!
Host: Ben Ferguson
Publisher: Premiere Networks
Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Ferguson highlights two major political victories for President Trump's administration:

1. The Department of Homeland Security’s arrest of over 480,000 illegal immigrants—many with criminal histories—in the first nine months of the new administration.
2. The Ninth Circuit’s landmark ruling permitting President Trump to deploy the National Guard in Portland to restore law and order.

The episode combines data-driven updates, on-the-ground examples, and sharp commentary aligned with Ferguson’s unapologetic tone and pro-law enforcement stance. Multiple official statements, press conference clips, and media responses are included to support the narrative.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. DHS Arrests 480,000 Illegal Immigrants in 9 Months

Time: [05:56]–[13:00]

• Promise Delivered:
  Ben opens the main segment by connecting the arrests to Trump's campaign promises about cracking down on illegal immigration and prioritizing the removal of criminal offenders.
• Statistics and Details:
  • DHS reports over 480,000 illegal immigrants arrested since President Trump took office.
  • 70% of those arrested had either been convicted of crimes or had pending criminal charges in the U.S.
  • These numbers do not include foreign fugitives, gang members, or suspected terrorists.
  • Quote from Ferguson:

    “70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S. This statistic doesn’t even include, they say, foreign fugitives, illegal aliens convicted of crimes in other countries, gang members, and also suspected terrorists.” ([05:56])

• Sanctuary Cities:
  Ferguson criticizes sanctuary cities and the “radical left” for shielding immigrants with criminal records.
• Press Conference Highlights:
  • South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, speaking at a Florida press conference, details some of the worst offenders apprehended, including:
    • A convicted murderer (Eric Carlos Artilles Ramos, Cuba), previously deported.
    • A child sexual assailant (Oscar Alfredo Retaina Mar Marquin, El Salvador) deported twice.
    • Arturo Sanchez Morales (Mexico), known for DUI, burglary, drug offenses, and lewd acts against a minor; also previously deported.
    • Leila’s Reynaldo Benaro Zahren (Honduras), conviction for domestic battery, twice deported.
  • Quote from Noem ([08:52]):

    “These individuals are just a handful of people that have been in this country creating victims out of American citizens that now those families do no longer have to worry about.”

• Law Enforcement Risks:
  Noem and Ferguson emphasize increasing violence against law enforcement, citing a recent ICE facility attack and threats/bounties against officers.
  • Quote from Noem ([11:20]):

    “Every single day, our law enforcement officers put their lives at risk to protect the American people ... The left’s anti-cop rhetoric has led to a thousand percent increase in violence against our law enforcement officers.”

• Public Support:
  Recent polls cited:
  • 54% of Americans want all undocumented immigrants deported.
  • 78% support specifically removing those convicted of crimes.
  • Quote from Noem ([12:49]):

    “The American people see this, and they see that President Trump is focused on making sure that our streets are safe and that our families have opportunities to raise their children in safe communities.”

2. Ninth Circuit Win: National Guard in Portland

Time: [13:00]–[15:49]

• Legal Victory:
  Ferguson announces the Ninth Circuit’s decision allowing President Trump to deploy the National Guard in Portland—a move hailed as a landmark for restoring order in violent cities.
• Media Reaction:
  Ferguson references a “meltdown” on MSNBC, playing a clip of legal analyst Lisa Rubin ([13:44]) explaining the court’s reasoning and reading from the decision:
  • Quote from Rubin ([14:26]):

    “At this preliminary stage, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority ... The evidence the president relied on reflects, quote, a colorable assessment of the facts and law within a range of honest judgment. We thus conclude that defendants are likely to succeed on the merits of their appeal...”

• Interpretation:
  Ferguson argues this ruling confirms the President’s authority to act decisively where local governments have failed, and predicts continued resistance from left-leaning political and media circles.
  • Quote from Ferguson ([15:24]):

    “It is very clear the left realizes now they’re running out of ways to stop President Trump from doing his job, a job that he was elected by the American people to do.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Ferguson ([05:56]):

  “The Department of Homeland Security has arrested more than 480,000 illegal immigrants in the first nine months of the Trump administration. I’m going to give you that number again, 480,000 illegal immigrants in a nine month span.”

• Kristi Noem ([08:52]):

  "These individuals are just a handful of people that have been in this country creating victims out of American citizens ... Not only have they been brought into and incarcerated, but they're going to be brought to justice and pay for the crimes that they've committed."

• Kristi Noem ([11:20]):

  "The left's anti-cop rhetoric has led to a thousand percent increase in violence against our law enforcement officers."

• Lisa Rubin, reading the Ninth Circuit Decision ([14:26]):

  “The evidence the president relied on reflects, quote, a colorable assessment of the facts and law within a range of honest judgment.”

• Ben Ferguson ([15:24]):

  “What you’re witnessing is a President that is doing exactly what he promised he was going to do, keep all Americans safe, no matter where you live.”

Segment Timestamps

• [05:56] — Main story introduction: DHS arrests 480,000 illegal immigrants, breakdown of statistics
• [08:52] — Gov. Kristi Noem press conference: Detailed cases, law enforcement threats, poll data
• [13:00] — Ninth Circuit Portland ruling: Legal background and analysis
• [13:44] — MSNBC legal analysis: Lisa Rubin reads the court opinion
• [15:24] — Ferguson’s conclusion: Broader implications for law and order

Tone and Takeaways

Ben Ferguson's language remains direct, forceful, and unapologetically supportive of Trump-era policies and law enforcement. He frames the reported arrests and court victory as evidence of decisive leadership, contrasting this with what he describes as “radical left” obstruction and mainstream media opposition.

Listeners are left with the overriding message that the Trump administration’s law-and-order approach is paying off both statistically and in terms of public safety, and that efforts to impede it—political, legal, or media-based—are running out of options.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive, timestamped breakdown of the key themes and standout moments in this episode.