Sharp Decline in Migrant Encounters at the Border
In May 2024, over 62,000 migrants entered the United States illegally at the borders outside of official entry points. A year later, during the Trump administration, this number dropped to zero. Additionally, illegal crossings plummeted by nearly 93% compared to the same time last year.
A spokesperson from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated, “Under this administration’s leadership, CBP has received historical support, with an additional 93% reduction in illegal crossings along the southwest border this month compared to last year. Border numbers continue to trend at historic lows, reinforcing the sustained success of enforcement efforts in securing homelands and protecting American communities.”
According to a report from CBP, there were 8,725 arrests in May. This marks a significant decline from nearly 118,000 arrests in the same month the previous year.
Of those 118,000 migrants arrested in May 2024, a substantial number—over 62,000—were allowed to remain in the U.S. under the Biden administration’s catch-and-release policy. In May 2025, Border Patrol managed to return all of the 8,725 migrants they encountered at the Mexico-southwest border.
From February, marking President Trump’s first month in office, until the end of May, Border Patrol agents apprehended 32,646 migrants—almost a 94% drop from the 524,914 encounters during that same period last year.
The El Paso sector accounted for nearly 25% of the arrests, with 2,014 migrants. Following it were the Tucson sector with 1,588, the Rio Grande Valley sector with 1,439, and the San Diego sector with 1,395. These areas saw significant changes, with percentages declining from 97.7% in the Yuma sector to 68.4% in the Big Bend sector compared to the previous year.
Five border agents in Texas reported encountering 5,491 migrants, making up roughly 63% of the migrant concerns at the southwest border in May. This represents an 88% decrease from the 45,144 migrants encountered in May 2024.
In May, daily immigrant encounters at the border averaged 281, a notable drop from over 3,000 per day in May 2024.
“The number of encounters continues to be held at historic lows, reflecting borders struggling with safer, more controlled, and unprecedented levels of operational success,” concluded the authorities.
