Illegal migrant border encounters have decreased significantly since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, marking record lows compared to the same period last year under former President Joe Biden.
For example, there were only 32 encounters in El Paso, Texas, on Thursday, as opposed to 1,134 encounters on the same day in 2024, according to Border Patrol sources. This represents a 97% reduction.
In Tucson, Arizona, there were 59 apprehensions yesterday compared to 1,222 on the same day last year under Biden, a 95% decrease, while San Diego witnessed 36 apprehensions on Thursday compared to 908 on the same day in 2024, a 96% reduction.
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Overall, there were only 254 apprehensions across the southern border on Thursday, a significant drop from the 4,229 apprehensions on the same day last year, amounting to a 94% reduction.
The significant decrease follows Trump’s announcement earlier this month that apprehensions had dropped to 8,326 in the entire month of February, his first full month in office, setting a new record low. This figure marks a 96% decrease from the peak apprehensions during the Biden administration in December 2023.
After the announcement, Trump boldly declared that the border is now closed and that all border crossers would face swift expulsion or prosecution for crimes against the United States.
Illegal migrant border encounters have significantly decreased under President Donald Trump, leading to record lows compared to the same period last year under former President Joe Biden. (Getty Images)
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“This means that very few people came – The Invasion of our Country is OVER,” Trump stated. “Anyone who tries to illegally enter the U.S.A. will face significant criminal penalties and immediate deportation.”
Biden had multiple days during his term where apprehensions ranged from 8,000 to 10,000 migrants, with the highest single month being December 2023 when 249,785 Border Patrol apprehensions were recorded.
Former President Joe Biden oversaw unprecedented levels of illegal immigration and migrants at the southern border. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta and Fox News)
One single day of apprehensions during Biden’s term was often higher than Trump’s entire first month in office.
The notable decrease occurred without any new immigration legislation being passed by Congress.
During his term, Biden mentioned the need for a new bill to address the unusually high influx of migrants crossing the southern border, but no bill reached his desk. Similar to his first term, Trump’s approach involved executive orders, enforcement of existing laws, and a tough stance on illegal crossings.
Trump also issued orders halting birthright citizenship, suspending refugee admissions, discontinuing the use of an app at the southern border for admitting migrants via humanitarian parole, and resuming border wall construction.
Trump’s strict stance on illegal immigration was a major promise during his campaign, and his administration has been actively arresting and deporting criminal illegal migrants nationwide under the guidance of border czar Tom Homan and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
A group of more than 100 migrants attempted to enter the U.S. illegally by rushing through a border wall on March 21, 2024. (James Breeden for New York Post / Mega)
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Additionally, Del Rio and the Rio Grande Valley each saw 36 and 35 encounters yesterday compared to 207 and 372 respectively under Biden last year, according to the sources.
There were 32 apprehensions in Laredo yesterday, six in Yuma, three in Big Bend, and two in El Campo.
On the same day last year, there were 127 apprehensions in Laredo, 269 in Yuma, 41 in El Campo, and 19 in Big Bend.
Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Michael Lee, and Aleandra Koch contributed to this report
