Last month, Border Patrol agents reported not releasing any immigrants into the United States, marking a striking contrast to the Biden administration’s previous allowance of 64,000 illegal crossings in May 2024.
In fact, agents apprehended 8,725 migrants trying to cross illegally at the southern border last month.
This reflects a 93% drop compared to the 117,905 apprehensions recorded in May 2024, according to internal data.
Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Pete Flores attributes this decline to the enforcement policies established during the Trump administration.
A significant change made by Trump was the end of Biden’s catch-and-release policy, which had allowed many undocumented immigrants to enter the country.
“Under this administration’s leadership, CBP has received historical support, resulting in a 93% decrease in illegal crossings along the southwest border this month compared to last year,” Flores stated.
He added that the consistent drop in border numbers reflects the effectiveness of enforcement efforts aimed at securing the nation and safeguarding communities.
Border Patrol officials are nearing their goal of achieving full operational control of the southern border, as noted by Paul Perez, president of the Border Patrol Council.
“During the Biden administration, our agents were often pulled from their posts, handling detentions and transportation, essentially acting as babysitters. The borders were quite open,” Perez remarked.
He further emphasized that the lack of agents on duty left the border unsecured, but now, for the first time in many years, all agents are back patrolling the borders.
