Overview
- CBP says stepped-up enforcement since January — with military support, new technology and added barriers — drove the decline, with resources shifting to hotspots such as Tijuana, El Paso, Tucson and San Diego.
- July 2025 crossings fell about 90%, dropping to roughly 6,000 from about 60,000 in July of the prior year, according to officials.
- Roughly 80% of recent detainees who surrender are Mexican nationals, with localized upticks reported in Sonora and the Nogales/Tucson sector.
- Officials warn that smuggling networks use WhatsApp and TikTok to spread false claims of an open border or automatic asylum to lure migrants.
- Authorities outline tougher consequences, including added charges for entering outside ports or into federal zones, potential liability tied to supporting designated groups by paying smugglers, higher fines up to $5,000 and longer reentry bans under consideration, as routes shift into more dangerous terrain and minors are exploited.