Southern Border Crossings Hit 55-Year Low Under Trump Administration

Unlawful crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border have reached their lowest annual level in over five decades, according to preliminary Department of Homeland Security statistics obtained by CBS News. The dramatic decline in illegal immigration represents one of the most significant shifts in U.S. border enforcement policy in recent history, with Border Patrol apprehensions falling to levels not seen since the early 1970s.

Historic Decline in Border Crossings

According to the internal federal data, U.S. Border Patrol agents recorded approximately 238,000 apprehensions of migrants crossing the southern border illegally during fiscal year 2025. This figure marks the lowest annual tally since fiscal year 1970, when the agency reported roughly 202,000 apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border. The current numbers represent a seismic shift from the record-high levels recorded under the previous administration, which faced unprecedented migration challenges.

The contrast between administrations is stark. In fiscal year 2022, Border Patrol made 2.2 million apprehensions at the southern border—nearly ten times the levels recorded in 2025. More than 60% of the fiscal year 2025 apprehensions occurred during the final three months of the Biden administration, with the numbers plummeting following the presidential transition.

Administration Policies and Enforcement

The Trump administration moved swiftly to implement its border security agenda upon taking office. The administration utilized emergency powers to effectively close down the American asylum system, deployed thousands of military personnel to reinforce border security, and terminated Biden-era programs that had allowed certain migrants to enter the United States legally.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated that "President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border" and that "Americans are safer—unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked." The administration has virtually ended the practice of releasing migrants who cross illegally, instead opting for rapid deportation or detention while cases undergo review.

Impact on Border Communities

The policy changes have produced tangible effects in border communities. John Martin, who operates a network of shelters in El Paso, Texas, reported that his organization housed hundreds of migrants during migration surges under the previous administration but currently shelters no migrants aside from local homeless residents. "If the goal is to decrease the number of individuals, I would say that appears to have been successful," Martin noted, adding that "We're just simply not seeing the people."

Ariel Ruiz Soto, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, observed that while illegal border crossings began declining after the Biden administration implemented stricter asylum limits in summer 2024, the Trump administration has established "a new normal" for migration patterns. Ruiz Soto attributed the dramatic reduction to the administration's comprehensive deterrence strategies both at the border and within the United States.

Legal Challenges and Controversy

The administration's approach has not been without controversy. Civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have challenged the policies in federal court, arguing they violate U.S. and international asylum laws as well as constitutional protections. The administration's interior enforcement operations have also sparked significant backlash, with large-scale protests occurring in major cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.

National and local Democratic leaders have criticized the immigration raids as indiscriminate and excessively harsh, accusing the administration of not focusing exclusively on deporting violent offenders. In response to confrontations and instances of violence, the administration has ordered National Guard deployments to several cities, though federal courts have blocked some of these measures.

Conclusion

The unprecedented decline in unlawful border crossings represents a fundamental shift in U.S. immigration enforcement. While the policies have proven effective in reducing illegal immigration numbers, they continue to generate significant legal and political debate. The data suggests that the administration's comprehensive approach—combining border security measures with interior enforcement—has dramatically altered migration patterns along the southern border, establishing what analysts describe as a new baseline for illegal immigration in the United States.