Overview

• Border Patrol recorded approximately 8,450 illegal crossings in February 2025, a 96% decrease from record highs under the Biden administration in late 2023.
• This figure represents the lowest monthly apprehensions since at least the year 2000, with some comparisons suggesting similar levels last occurred in the 1960s.
• The Trump administration attributes the decline to strict immigration policies, including immediate deportations, criminal prosecutions, and the cessation of asylum processing at official entry points.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported single-day apprehensions in February as low as 200, the smallest figure in over 15 years.
• Despite the success at the border, Interior enforcement efforts are facing challenges, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities operating at 117% capacity.