Overview

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 8,326 apprehensions at the southern border in February, the lowest monthly total in at least 25 years.
• The Trump administration attributes the sharp decline to executive orders, enhanced border enforcement, and military deployments to secure the border.
• The administration has ended Biden-era programs like humanitarian parole and resumed expedited deportations, while deploying thousands of troops to assist with enforcement.
• Interior enforcement operations have intensified, with a 137% increase in ICE arrests during Trump’s first weeks compared to the same period in 2024.
• Critics note that while border crossings have plummeted, legal and logistical challenges remain for implementing large-scale deportations and addressing detention capacity issues.