Trump Administration Claims Year of “Zero Releases” at Southern Border

The Trump administration recently announced that it has achieved a full year of “zero releases” at the southern border. Officials celebrated this as proof that the president has successfully ended the catch-and-release policy that characterized the previous administration’s handling of border issues.

“Zero releases” means that U.S. Border Patrol is not letting illegal border crossers into the U.S. interior after apprehending them. It doesn’t imply that illegal crossings or arrests have stopped entirely, though.

According to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), enforcement statistics indicate levels of illegal crossings and arrests not seen in over three decades. For instance, Border Patrol recorded 8,943 arrests at the Southwest border in April. This figure is remarkably 94% lower than the monthly average during the Biden administration and 96% lower than the peak in December 2023. In fact, it’s even less than what was recorded in only three days of April 2024.

“The days of catch-and-release are over,” stated Secretary of Homeland Security Mark Wayne Mullin, adding that the administration is committed to enforcing immigration laws and sending illegal immigrants back to their home countries.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council, commented to Fox News Digital that while the claim of “zero releases” seems accurate, it doesn’t account for immigrants who were transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and later released under various circumstances.

“What a difference,” remarked CBP Director Rodney S. Scott. He compared April 2024’s situation, where over 68,000 people were released under President Biden, to the current month, highlighting that no illegal aliens were released into the country now.

Data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveals that, in April, an average of 298 people were apprehended each day, which is substantially lower than the hourly apprehensions at the peak during the Biden administration. For instance, in December 2023, the average was about 336 per hour. Furthermore, DHS reported that total encounters this year were around 215,876, which is 13% less than the total from just April 2024.

In addition to its focus on illegal entry, CBP has emphasized a rise in drug enforcement. They recorded a 60% increase in nationwide seizures of various drugs compared to April 2024. In April alone, 463 pounds of fentanyl were seized, along with a significant uptick in overall drug seizures during this fiscal year compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.

Reichlin-Melnick clarified that although the term catch and release typically refers to the immediate release of migrants from Border Patrol custody, many are still crossing the border and later released, though not directly by Border Patrol.

Reichlin-Melnick also acknowledged that Trump’s strict immigration policies have yielded positive results regarding border security but critiqued the overall approach of limiting asylum access, suggesting it might be too extreme.

{“The Trump administration has sent a message to the world that the United States is no longer a place where people can seek safety,” he noted, while also agreeing that the asylum system needs reform, including more staff and judges. However, he expressed that the solution shouldn’t be to completely shut down the asylum process.

Reichlin-Melnick emphasized the importance most Americans place on the U.S. as a safe haven, suggesting that closing off asylum access entirely is not a sustainable or humane solution.

In contrast, DHS officials contend that decreasing border crossings is a clear sign that the administration’s strategies are effective, especially after a period of record illegal immigration under Biden.

Fox News Digital attempted to contact representatives for President Biden for a response but did not receive a reply in time for this report.