Illegal border crossings have plummeted to levels not seen in decades, according to fresh data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The newly released figures indicate that President Trump’s stringent border enforcement strategy — particularly at the southern border — might be having its intended impact. Despite ongoing attempts by noncitizens without legal status to enter, the administration appears to be making headway.
CBP reported on Tuesday that June marked the lowest number of unauthorized entries ever documented in the agency’s history.
According to the CBP, there were just 25,228 total encounters nationwide last month — the fewest recorded in a single month since the agency began tracking.
Arrests by U.S. Border Patrol also reached an all-time low, with 8,024 apprehensions across the country.
Along the Southwest border specifically, 6,072 individuals were apprehended — a 15% decrease from March’s previous record low.
CBP also noted that June 28 saw the smallest number of arrests for any single day, with only 136 individuals taken into custody.
Additionally, the agency highlighted a sharp shift in policy: there were zero parole releases in June, compared to 27,766 during the same month in 2024, when a surge of migrants had arrived at the border.
While the exact reason for the steep decline in attempted crossings remains unclear, immigration analysts told Axios that migrants and smugglers may be pausing to assess how strictly Trump’s new directives will be enforced.
This historic drop coincides with the administration’s ramped-up border deployment, a crackdown on parole and refugee admissions, and a scaling back of humanitarian entry programs.
It also reflects changes in migration trends further south. The number of people making the hazardous journey through the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama has also decreased significantly.
This suggests fewer migrants from South America are attempting the arduous 2,600-mile trip north as Trump’s immigration agenda begins to take effect.
“From shutting down illegal crossings to seizing fentanyl and enforcing billions in tariffs, CBP is delivering results on every front,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement.
“Under this administration, we are protecting this country with relentless focus, and the numbers prove it.”
{Matzav.com}
