U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the Mexican border dropped to their lowest annual level since 1968, with enforcement measures under President Donald Trump accelerating a decline that began under former President Joe Biden, according to Department of Homeland Security data released Friday.
Historic Decline in Border Crossings
Federal agents recorded 98,708 apprehensions of people crossing between ports of entry during the fiscal year ending September 30, down from more than 2 million annually in 2022 and 2023, according to DHS figures. The dramatic 95 percent decrease marks the steepest drop in unauthorized border crossings in modern history. The data reflects both enhanced enforcement policies and shifting migration patterns across the southern border.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin credited the administration’s enforcement strategy for the results. “The results could not be clearer: strong enforcement works,” Mullin said in a statement accompanying the data release. The decline represents a continuation of trends that began in late 2023, when apprehensions started falling from their historic peaks during the Biden administration’s middle years.
Policy Changes Drive Numbers Down
The Trump administration implemented expanded deportation operations, increased border wall construction, and stricter asylum processing requirements after taking office in January 2025. These measures built upon Title 42 public health restrictions and expanded Remain in Mexico protocols that were reinstated in late 2024. Immigration advocacy groups have criticized the policies as creating humanitarian concerns, while border state governors largely praised the enforcement approach.
The apprehension figures do not account for individuals who crossed undetected or those who presented themselves at official ports of entry. Border Patrol estimates suggest the number of undetected crossings has also declined significantly, though exact figures remain unavailable. The agency attributes improved detection rates to enhanced technology deployment and increased personnel along key crossing corridors.
What This Means
The historic low in border apprehensions represents a major policy achievement for the Trump administration and validates stricter enforcement measures that conservatives have long advocated. The data demonstrates that comprehensive border security, combining physical barriers with enhanced enforcement, can dramatically reduce unauthorized crossings. These results will likely shape immigration policy debates heading into the 2028 election cycle, as Republicans point to the figures as proof that border security is achievable through determined enforcement. The sustainability of these numbers depends on continued policy implementation and cooperation from Mexico on migration management.