DHS Reports Historic Low in Migrant Arrests
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed on Friday that it recorded the lowest number of migrant arrests along the southwest border in its history. For Fiscal Year 2026, Border Patrol agents apprehended fewer than 99,000 migrants who crossed illegally between ports of entry. This marks a significant 95 percent reduction from the average of 1.8 million annually during what has been termed the Biden Border Crisis.
“President Trump promised the American people a secure border, and the data proves he delivered. Over the past year, CBP recorded its lowest numbers in American history. A stark contrast to Biden, where CBP recorded its highest illegal immigration numbers ever,” stated DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “The results are clear: strong enforcement works. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the hard work of CBP and DHS personnel, we have restored control of the border and made America safer than ever.”
On the first day of President Donald Trump’s second term, he signed a series of ten executive orders targeting border security and Mexican cartels, as reported by Breitbart Texas. These orders declared a national emergency and allocated additional resources for a comprehensive approach to border security, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking enforcement.
Following these actions, border apprehensions fell dramatically from a peak of 249,740 in December 2023 to about 8,900 by the end of FY26 on September 30, indicating a drop of over 96 percent.
“Fiscal Year 2026 demonstrated what focused enforcement, strong partnerships, and our frontline personnel’s commitment can accomplish,” noted CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “DHS and CBP are actively securing the border, stopping dangerous drugs and criminals, and ensuring our personnel have the necessary resources for this critical mission.”
The DHS report corroborates earlier unconfirmed reports from Breitbart Texas regarding the number of apprehensions along the southwest border in September. This brought the total for FY26 to just under 99,000 migrants crossing between ports of entry, which DHS officials described as the “lowest level in agency history.”
Completing its first-ever fiscal year without any releases, the Border Patrol recorded under 99,000 arrests in FY 2026—a 95% decrease compared to over 1.8 million in previous years under President Biden. Total apprehensions for FY 2026 (98,708) were significantly lower than the highest monthly total from the Biden administration (249,740).
Moreover, preliminary data indicates that total nationwide encounters in FY 2026 were the lowest on record at 379,243, a stark contrast to the 2.7 million reported annually under Biden. FY 2026 encounters marked an 88% reduction compared to FY 2023, the peak year under Biden.
In addition to these historical low apprehension numbers, DHS officials noted that during the last 17 months, no migrants were released by Border Patrol into the U.S. interior.
The conclusion of Fiscal Year 2026 signifies a pivotal change in American border defense, demonstrating that rigorous enforcement and a zero-tolerance approach can effectively restore control of the southwest border. By eliminating “catch and release” policies and implementing robust multi-agency enforcement strategies, the Trump administration has disrupted the business models of transnational criminal organizations that profited from border vulnerabilities.
As federal data reveals a remarkable 95 percent decline in illegal crossings and a span of 17 months without interior releases, it suggests that adhering strictly to the rule of law can lead to the most secure southern border in American history.
