Dramatic Halt in Migrant Releases
Border Patrol agents recorded a striking milestone last month, releasing zero migrants into the United States, a sharp pivot from the 64,000 released in May 2024 under the Biden administration, according to exclusive data obtained by the New York Post.
In June 2025, agents apprehended 8,725 migrants crossing illegally at the southern border, a 93% plunge from the 117,905 nabbed in May 2024. This follows the Trump administration’s aggressive policy shifts, notably the termination of Biden’s catch-and-release practice, which had allowed millions of migrants to remain in the U.S. after apprehension.
Acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Pete Flores credited the drop to robust enforcement. “Under the leadership of this administration, CBP has received historic support resulting in another 93% decrease in illegal crossings along the southwest border this month when compared with last year,” Flores stated.
CBP data confirms this trend, with March 2025 apprehensions already at historic lows.
Enforcement-First Approach Reshapes Operations
The Trump administration’s overhaul of border policies has fundamentally altered Border Patrol’s focus.
By scrapping catch-and-release, the administration has prioritized detention and deportation, redirecting agents to frontline patrolling. National Border Patrol Council president Paul Perez described the shift to The Post:
Under the Biden administration, our agents were pulled off the line. We were doing all the processing, detaining, transporting and essentially baby-sitting, the border was wide open.
Now, he says, “All of our agents are actually patrolling the border for the first time in many, many years.” The policy changes, including shutting down the CBP One app used for asylum appointments, have sent a clear message to migrants, contributing to the decline.
Axios reported February 2025 apprehensions at 8,300, the lowest since 2000, driven by Trump’s crackdown and earlier Biden-era restrictions. Mexico’s increased enforcement, including new checkpoints, also played a role, though Trump’s rhetoric amplified the deterrence effect.
Strides Toward Full Border Control
The plummeting apprehension numbers signal Border Patrol’s progress toward “operational control,” a goal emphasizing prevention over processing.
Flores noted, “Border numbers continue to trend at historic lows, reinforcing the sustained success of our enforcement efforts in securing the homeland and protecting American communities.”
CBP’s March 2025 update reported apprehensions lower than the first two days of March 2024, highlighting the administration’s impact.
The House Committee on Homeland Security’s February 2025 brief detailed an 80% drop in southwest border encounters from January 2025, with a record-low daily apprehension average of 330.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests also surged over 600% compared to Biden’s final year, targeting criminal networks like Tren de Aragua.
