Border Patrol Reports Zero Migrant Releases for Ten Months

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that for the past ten months, no migrants have been released into the U.S. interior. Officials attribute this to what they describe as historically low levels of illegal immigration.

In a recent press release, DHS highlighted that data from February shows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded no migrant releases at the border during this period, crediting an “enforcement first” strategy for the ongoing decline.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized this achievement, claiming, “President Donald Trump promised to secure our border, and we’ve made good on that promise. Our borders are the most secure in American history. Our borders are closed to lawbreakers.”

CBP Director Rodney Scott echoed these sentiments, noting that the current trend suggests a significant drop in border crossings, with Border Patrol agents not allowing any entry into the country. He remarked, “February marks the 10th month in a row that the U.S. Border Patrol has not released a single illegal alien into the interior of the United States.”

Statistics from CBP reveal that there were 26,963 encounters nationwide in February, a drop of 22% from January, and down 88% from the monthly average during former President Joe Biden’s term.

At the southwest border, agents reported 6,603 arrests in February, which is notably 92% lower than the monthly average over the last three decades and 97% lower than December 2023’s peak under the Biden administration.

Officials also observed a steep decline in daily border crossings, averaging just 236 apprehensions a day in February—a staggering 95% decrease from the previous administration’s figures.

In addition to these statistics, CBP mentioned that drug seizures have surged, with agents confiscating over 79,000 pounds of drugs nationwide in the last month, the highest amount since October 2021. Notably, fentanyl seizures have risen by 67% since January, with significant increases in marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine seizures as well.

Scott reiterated the agency’s commitment to enforcement and national security, stating, “As threats to our national and economic security continue to evolve, so too does our resolve to counter them as we fulfill our mission to protect our homeland while facilitating lawful travel and trade.”