President Trump’s Border Policy Results in Historic Changes in 2025

In 2025, President Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to border control significantly impacted illegal immigration, bringing it down to levels not seen in many years. By December, only 6,400 migrants were reported crossing into the Southwest, contributing to a total of 109,000 apprehensions throughout the year. This shift contrasts sharply with the turmoil experienced during former President Joe Biden’s tenure.

An unofficial Border Patrol report indicated that the Trump administration, which began its term on January 20, 2025, ended the year with this notably low number of apprehensions for undocumented individuals.

“Border encounters have dropped to record lows, and for the seventh straight month, there have been no releases,” stated Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem in early December. She credited Trump’s leadership and law enforcement efforts with creating safer borders.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin remarked on the significant achievements made in just under a year, noting these accomplishments are among the most historically significant seen in presidential leadership.

McLaughlin continued, “Under President Trump’s guidance, we’re working to make America safer and prioritize the needs of the American people. We have rapidly secured our borders, targeted cartels, and detained thousands of illegal aliens involved in criminal activities.”

DHS officials expressed that the Trump administration has created “the most secure border in American history,” with the agency achieving this in just weeks.

Some noteworthy statistics include:

• Border crossings have decreased by 93% compared to the previous year.
• On average, there were about 245 arrests of illegal aliens per day at the southwest border.
• From May to November, there were zero illegal immigrant entries for seven consecutive months.
• During Trump’s administration, the total number of apprehensions at the Southwest border reached 73,329, down 53% from Biden’s administration average of 155,485 monthly.
• Since Trump’s inauguration, the Border Patrol has maintained an average of fewer than 10,000 apprehensions monthly, a record in modern history.
• Fiscal year 2026 began with the lowest figures on record, with 60,940 encounters noted in October and November—less than any year prior.
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported drug seizures of nearly 540,000 pounds, a 10% increase from the same timeframe in 2024.
• CBP secured over $5 billion in new border wall contracts quickly, alongside a significant acquisition vehicle focused on this project.
• In collaboration with the Army and Texas state officials, CBP initiated the deployment of over 130,000 feet of temporary barriers to reinforce vulnerable areas.
• CBP also streamlined its operations to expedite border wall construction through permitted waivers.
• Since January 20, 2025, there has been a noteworthy increase in CBP hiring, with 42.5% more new officer hires and an 84% rise in new Border Patrol agents compared to the prior year.
• CBP took several actions to combat issues related to illegal drugs and public safety.
• Customs revenue stood at over $190.7 billion, while total revenues exceeded $266.7 billion.
• Between January 20 and November 7, 2025, CBP conducted 387 audits, identifying $1.43 billion in trade revenue and collecting $225 million.
• Substantial tax loopholes benefiting drug traffickers were closed by ending minimal tax exemptions.
• In August, a new targeting cell was created within the National Targeting Center to combat trade fraud.

“Our commitment to border security, law enforcement, and protecting our nation remains strong,” stated CBP Director Rodney Scott in a December announcement. He emphasized that the efforts of agents and officers have produced transformative results in border security.

In 2025, apprehensions are expected to remain below 109,000, a stark contrast to the previous crises seen during Biden’s presidency, when nearly 1.7 million illegal entries were recorded in fiscal year 2021. The numbers peaked at over 2.2 million the following year.

At the height of the Biden administration’s border challenges, agents were encountering up to 10,000 migrants daily; this year, that figure has significantly reduced to around 300.

McLaughlin concluded, “While we’ve made historic strides in 2025, our work is far from over.”