Border crossings drop 70% in Trump’s first month
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Border crossings into the United States have plummeted to their lowest levels in over 20 years during President Donald Trump’s initial month in office, based on recent government data.
Preliminary statistics from the Border Patrol indicate approximately 8,450 migrants were apprehended while crossing between official U.S.-Mexico border entry points last month, according to CBS News.
The data reveals that such low monthly apprehension numbers have only been recorded once before in the past quarter-century – during Trump’s previous term when roughly 11,000 migrants were detained at the southwest border in April 2017.
This stark contrast becomes even more apparent when compared to former President Joe Biden’s administration, which sometimes recorded more than 8,000 apprehensions in a single day during peak migration periods.
Within a week, border crossings are down 95%. The message is out there, do not cross the American border unless you want to be hustled back to wherever you came from‼️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UJOJF6BoBc
— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 29, 2025
While the February figures may undergo slight adjustments before being officially confirmed, historically, final numbers tend to closely mirror preliminary data.
The decline in illegal border crossings began during Biden’s final year in office, following record-high numbers in late 2023. The downward trend accelerated in early 2024, prompted by Mexican authorities’ increased efforts to intercept migrants before they reached U.S. territory, coupled with Biden’s implementation of stricter asylum access regulations.
Following Trump’s January inauguration, the numbers fell dramatically, with Border Patrol agents documenting 29,000 apprehensions, down from December’s 47,000. This decline continued into February, resulting in an overall reduction of approximately 70%.
The Trump administration attributes this decrease to their aggressive immigration enforcement policies, which include giving federal officials broader authority to swiftly deport migrants at the border without processing asylum claims.
BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN: "The numbers are down significantly… between the ports of entry, we're down closer to 87%… as we lock that border down, we're taking money out of the pockets of the criminal cartels." pic.twitter.com/QBuBw59gwk
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 6, 2025
While U.S. law permits migrants on American soil to request asylum to prevent or delay deportation, the administration maintains that an “invasion” is occurring and that smugglers and economic migrants are exploiting the asylum system inappropriately.
Additional measures include deploying military personnel to the southern border and utilizing military aircraft for migrant deportations. The administration is also exploring the possibility of reinstating Title 42, previously used during COVID-19, to expel migrants based on concerns about the spread of serious diseases like tuberculosis.
Despite the rapid decrease in border crossings under Trump’s strategy, the administration faces challenges in implementing his proposed large-scale deportation initiative. These obstacles include dissatisfaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s deportation and arrest rates, along with overcrowding in ICE detention facilities.
Current data shows these detention centers operating at 117% capacity, housing over 45,000 migrants, with nearly half initially apprehended at the southern border.
