Illegal crossings into the United States continue to plummet, with U.S. Border Patrol reporting fewer encounters in nine months under President Donald Trump than in one month under Joe Biden.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced preliminary figures for October on Wednesday. DHS stated that October saw the lowest number of crossings in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s history and marked the sixth consecutive month of zero USBP releases.
The historic start to Fiscal Year 2026 highlights the continued success at the southern border—and nationwide—and the work of Border Patrol and CBP to stop illegal crossings and drug trafficking, according to a DHS news release.
“This is most secure border ever,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “Thank you, President Trump and our brave DHS law enforcement. You make America proud!”
Data from the U.S. southern border continues to shatter records, with record-low encounters and sustained control across all sectors, the DHS said.
Since Jan. 21 through the end of October, there have been 106,134 total enforcement encounters along the Southwest Border — less than the Biden administration’s monthly average of 155,485 encounters.
“Our mission is simple: secure the border and safeguard this nation,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. “And that’s exactly what we are doing. No excuses. No politics. Just results delivered by the most dedicated law-enforcement professionals in the country. We’re not easing up — we’re pushing even harder.”
According to CBP data, there were 30,561 total encounters nationwide in October — the lowest start to a fiscal year ever recorded by CBP. That figure is 29% lower than the previous record low of 43,010 in October Fiscal Year 2012.
Additionally, border encounters dropped 79% from a year ago, DHS said.
For the sixth consecutive month, Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into the United States.
“Every individual apprehended was processed according to law — a milestone unmatched in modern border history,” DHS said in a statement.
CBP also shared the statistics on social media, noting the daily average apprehensions on the Southwest Border are also down significantly, averaging 258 per day or less than 11 per hour.
Another historic month in border security:
•The lowest nationwide encounters in October in CBP history.
• 6 straight months of zero Border Patrol releases.
•258 daily apprehensions, 95% lower than the average of the previous administration.Border Security is national…
— CBP (@CBP) November 6, 2025
“Border Security is national security, and CBP is keeping America safe,” CBP shared on X.
That’s a 95% drop from the daily average apprehensions under the Biden administration, which averaged 5,110 per day between February 2021 and December 2024, according to CBP.
“In October 2024, 312 aliens were apprehended every four hours,” DHS said. “Today, that’s one day’s worth of apprehensions.”
USBP also reported nationwide apprehensions have averaged under 10,000 per month since President Trump took office — a level of sustained deterrence not seen in modern times.
This October, 9,845 apprehensions were reported, a 62% drop from the previous October low (26,039 in FY 2018).
The U.S. southern border with Mexico is typically the focus of border enforcement because it sees much higher illegal crossings and drug smuggling activity than other parts of the country.
CBP often shares updates of border enforcement activity on social media, recently highlighting a major methamphetamine bust in Eagle Pass, Texas.
“When there’s something strange, in a vehicle, who you gonna call? Meth Busters!” CBP wrote on X. “Earlier this week, CBP officers in Eagle Pass found and seized 88.8 lbs of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of over $816k. Thanks to CBP’s vigilant efforts, this deadly drug won’t reach America’s streets.”
When there’s something strange, in a vehicle, who you gonna call?
Meth Busters!
Earlier this week, CBP officers in Eagle Pass found and seized 88.8 lbs of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of over $816k.
Thanks to CBP’s vigilant efforts, this deadly drug won’t… pic.twitter.com/lWNwMmiDYi— CBP (@CBP) October 31, 2025
The Rio Grande River also runs through Eagle Pass, Texas, and last month DHS announced an “unprecedented mobilization” of resources to patrol portions of the waterway that forms an international border with Mexico.
Dubbed “Operation River Wall,” the effort involves the U.S. Coast Guard surging more than 100 boats and hundreds of personnel to patrol segments of the Rio Grande to bolster national security.
The effort is focused on approximately 260 miles of the Rio Grande Valley in Cameron and Hidalgo counties in eastern Texas, extending to the sea. The Coast Guard has a visible presence with response boats, shallow watercraft, command and control assets, and tactical teams, according to a news release.
USBP Chief Michael Banks also shared a video to social media of new wire fencing being installed, adding “When the wire rolls out, so does our message: Do not attempt to enter the country illegally.”
When the wire rolls out, so does our message: Do not attempt to enter the country illegally. pic.twitter.com/wVLY0xc6LX
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) November 4, 2025
Banks also shared news of a meth smuggling scheme thwarted in California and another recent drug bust involving the synthetic opioid “Pyro” in the CBP Swanton Sector near Bombay, New York.
USBP agents assisted during a traffic stop, verifying the immigration status of a Lawfully Admitted Permanent Resident traveling from New York City to Montreal. A search uncovered one pound of N-pyrrolidino etonitazene pills “Pyro,” a dangerous synthetic opioid, and the individual was arrested for felony drug possession and trafficking.
“This case highlights the importance of our strong law enforcement partnerships and interagency collaboration in combating illicit cross border activity,” Chief Banks shared on X. “Border security is national security which directly correlates to public safety.”
On October 28, 2025, USBP agents assisted St. Regis Tribal Police during a traffic stop, verifying the immigration status of a Lawfully Admitted Permanent Resident traveling from NYC to Montreal. An examination uncovered one pound of N-pyrrolidino etonitazene pills ("Pyro"), a… pic.twitter.com/p6VecdjTC1
— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) November 7, 2025
