Just three weeks after Donald Trump was sworn in again as president, illegal border crossings into the U.S. have reached record lows.
According to the New York Post, as of February, Border Patrol agents are detaining an average of 359 migrants per day after illegal crossings—representing a 90% drop compared to early 2023. If the trend continues, this month could mark a 60-year record for the sharpest decline in illegal immigration.
In an effort to tighten border security, Trump has deployed 1,500 soldiers to key border regions and brokered an agreement with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Facing the threat of 25% tariffs on Mexican exports, Mexico responded by sending 10,000 troops to intercept migrants before they reach the U.S. border. Additionally, Trump plans to reinstate a policy requiring all asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims are processed.
Since early February, U.S. authorities have ramped up large-scale raids targeting undocumented immigrants with prior legal violations. More than 11,000 individuals have been detained and deported, with military aircraft used in some cases.
The contrast with the previous administration is stark. Under Joe Biden, Border Patrol agents detained an average of 5,590 migrants per day in 2023, and by early 2024, that number had dropped to 2,872 per day. Now, Trump’s administration is not just seeking to reduce illegal crossings but to halt them entirely.
