The Trump administration announced that July marked a historic low in nationwide border encounters, continuing a trend of sharp declines due to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, US Customs and Border Protection recorded 24,630 encounters in July, marking the lowest monthly figure reported. That number represents a 2.4 percent drop from June and is roughly 90 percent lower than the monthly average under the previous administration.
July also saw the lowest number of border patrol apprehensions nationwide, at just 6,177, down from the previous record low set in June. At the southwest border, apprehensions fell to just 4,598 for the month, averaging only 148 per day. By comparison, there were approximately 152 apprehensions every two hours under the Biden administration.
“The numbers don’t lie—this is the most secure the border has ever been,” Noem posted on X. “President @realDonaldTrump didn’t just manage the crisis—he obliterated it. No more excuses. No more releases. We’ve put the cartels on defense and taken our border back.”
Fox News reported that under President Biden, border apprehensions peaked at a record 249,785 in December 2023, with most migrants released into the US. By contrast, July 2025 marked the third straight month where zero apprehended migrants were released into the country under the Trump administration.
The administration has taken several steps to clamp down on illegal immigration, including deploying troops to the southern border and shutting down the CBP One app, which had allowed migrants to claim asylum digitally. That app has been replaced with CBP Home, a new platform offering illegal immigrants already in the US the option to “self-deport.” Those who choose to do so receive free transportation to their home countries and a $1,000 stipend.
