Historic Low in U.S. Border Apprehensions Under Trump Administration

Historic Low in U.S. Border Apprehensions Under Trump Administration

The Trump administration has announced record-low apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol, concluding Fiscal Year 2025 with the fewest instances since 1970.

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed preliminary figures showing a total of 237,565 apprehensions for the year compared to 201,780 in 1970.

This remarkable drop occurred even as 72 percent of the total apprehensions happened in the last 111 days of the Biden administration. Fiscal Year 2025 spanned from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.

In addition, the numbers reflect a significant 87 percent decline from the previous four-year average of 1.86 million. DHS has hailed this achievement as evidence of the Trump administration’s effectiveness in restoring order at the border, despite the challenges posed by over three months of policies seen as lenient during the Biden administration.

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott stated that Fiscal Year 2025 illustrates the results of law enforcement when conducted without compromise. He noted, “For too long, agents and officers were handcuffed by failed policies. Today they are empowered to do their jobs, resulting in the lowest apprehensions in over five decades and the most secure border in modern history.”

Notable Trends in Apprehension Numbers

September marked the fifth consecutive month without illegal releases by Border Patrol along the southwest border, a stark contrast to the 9,144 releases recorded in September 2024.

Remarkably, most apprehensions happened under the Biden administration, totaling 172,026. The Trump administration accounted for just 65,539 apprehensions over the following 254 days, representing only 27 percent of the total for the fiscal year.

During September, Border Patrol agents averaged about 279 apprehensions per day along the southwestern border, equating to approximately 8,300 for the month. This figure demonstrates a staggering 95 percent decline from the daily average of about 5,110 seen during the final months of the Biden administration, between February 2021 and December 2024.

CBP data indicated that there were approximately 26,000 encounters in all modes of entry for September, a nearly unchanged figure from 26,191 in August, and approximately 89 percent lower than the monthly average during the previous administration.

Trump’s Re-election Campaign Focuses on Border Security

Securing the nation’s borders features prominently in President Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. He has consistently emphasized strong border control as a key element of his messaging.

On his first day in office, Trump took decisive actions to bolster security at the southern border. He deployed additional personnel and mandated strict enforcement of federal immigration laws. One of his significant moves included discontinuing the