Border Security Achievements
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported a significant decline in illegal border crossings, concluding the year with another drop in apprehensions at the southern border.
In December, the Border Patrol recorded only 6,478 illegal immigrants apprehended, averaging about 209 per day. This marks a stark contrast to December 2021, when the Biden administration faced over 10,000 daily apprehensions during its peak.
This past December also saw an unprecedented achievement: zero catch-and-release incidents along the U.S.-Mexico border. In comparison, last December had 7,041 migrants released into the U.S.
Rodney Scott, commissioner at Customs and Border Protection, stated that “our agents and officers have set a new standard for border security,” highlighting the historic results achieved under their leadership.
Of those apprehended in December, only 545 were unaccompanied minors and 392 were family units—less than 15% of total apprehensions. This is a notable decrease compared to previous months under different administrations where this figure often exceeded 50%.
The northern border also showed promising trends with only 434 apprehensions recorded—the lowest since September 2022—indicating that migrants are not attempting to bypass through this route.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attributed these successes to President Trump’s leadership and the commitment of DHS law enforcement. She emphasized that America’s borders are now safer than ever before.
