The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that U.S. Border Patrol has not released any migrants into the U.S. interior for 10 straight months, citing this as evidence of a sustained decline in illegal border crossings. This report, based on February data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), highlights the agency’s enforcement-first strategy in managing border security.
Record Low Border Crossings and Apprehensions
CBP recorded 26,963 nationwide migrant encounters in February, a 22% decrease from January and an 88% drop compared to the average monthly encounters under the Biden administration. At the southwest border specifically, there were 6,603 apprehensions in February—a 92% decline from the three-decade average and a 97% decrease from December 2023, when crossings peaked under the previous administration.
Border Patrol averaged 236 daily apprehensions in February, representing a 95% reduction from figures during the Biden administration. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott linked the trend to the agency’s firm enforcement posture, which he said is restoring integrity to the nation’s borders.
Increased Drug Seizures Amid Border Enforcement
Alongside the drop in migrant encounters, CBP reported heightened drug interdiction efforts. In February, agents seized over 79,000 pounds of narcotics nationwide—the highest total since October 2021. Notably, fentanyl seizures rose 67% month-over-month, with significant increases also reported in marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine confiscations.
Scott emphasized that despite evolving threats to national security, DHS remains committed to protecting the homeland while facilitating lawful trade and travel. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also highlighted the border security gains, describing the U.S. borders as “closed to lawbreakers” under the current enforcement policies.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.
