U.S. border apprehensions reach historic low in fiscal year 2026

The White House and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have announced that the United States has reached a milestone of zero illegal releases into the country for 17 consecutive months.

According to CBP data, fiscal year 2026 saw a 95% decrease in southwest border apprehensions compared to the previous administration. Total apprehensions for the year were recorded at less than 99,000, while southwest border encounters reached a historic low of 379,243. This stands in contrast to the Biden administration, which averaged over 1.8 million apprehensions and 2.7 million encounters per year.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the data proves the effectiveness of strong enforcement in restoring border control. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott attributed the record low encounter numbers to sustained enforcement and the deterrent effects of increased border security.