Trump border policy is now entering a 15th straight month without a single release at the border, according to the administration, as Homeland Security officials say apprehensions have fallen 94% from the Biden years. The figures were released Thursday and were presented by the Trump team as evidence that the administration’s approach is changing conditions along the southern border.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the numbers show President Donald Trump’s border agenda is “restoring order” and putting public safety first. In a statement, Mullin said the department is focused on enforcing immigration law, securing the border, and removing people who enter illegally as quickly as possible. He also said the United States now has “the most secure border in history.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott made a similar case, saying that “clear policy, strong enforcement, and dedicated frontline personnel” are producing results. Scott said the agency is securing the country against illegal crossings, dangerous individuals, and illicit drugs while also keeping lawful trade and travel moving. His remarks came as the administration pointed to the broader border picture, including a 30-year low in daily apprehensions, according to Mullin’s office.
The administration also said contraband seizures at the border in July were 26% higher than under President Joe Biden. Officials said those seizures included cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana. At the same time, CBP said it helped enforce Trump’s tariff policies and flagged $23 billion in duties identified for collection in July alone, underscoring how border operations now sit at the intersection of immigration enforcement, drug interdiction, and trade policy.
