Trump Crackdown Drives Border Apprehensions to Lowest Since 1970

(MEXICO? UNITED STATES? (NEAREST PRIMARY LOCATION NOT EXPLICITLY SPECIFIED)) Claims of an 83% jump in Southern border apprehensions during the Trump immigration crackdown are at odds with the government’s own numbers. Apprehensions have fallen by more than 80% from the peaks of late 2023 and early 2024, hitting levels not seen in over half a century, according to figures cited by analysts and consistent with official reporting.

In fiscal year 2025, U.S. Border Patrol recorded 238,000 apprehensions at the Southern border—the lowest annual total since 1970. Monthly totals also sank to historic lows: 4,600 in July 2025, 6,300 in August, and 8,400 in September. By comparison, December 2023 saw nearly 250,000 apprehensions in a single month, and fiscal year 2022 recorded 2.2 million.

How the timing explains confusion

The downward trend began in early 2024 after President Biden tightened asylum screening and worked with Mexico to increase enforcement along key routes. The shift accelerated after President Trump took office in 2025 and launched a wide-ranging enforcement campaign that reshaped conditions at the border.

Officials hardened the line with a mix of:

• Military deployment
• Detention-first processing
• Quick returns

Those measures reduced incentives for repeated attempts and altered migration flows rapidly.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combined effect produced a sustained drop in crossings and near-historic lows in apprehensions. The review notes that the San Diego, Tucson, and Rio Grande Valley sectors—once hot spots—reported steep declines matching nationwide patterns as the Trump crackdown intensified in mid-2025.

Policy changes driving the decline

The Trump administration’s approach centered on deterrence and speed. While specific policies varied by sector, the core steps were:

1. Military presence at the border
   • Thousands of soldiers deployed to support Border Patrol operations and logistics.
2. End to most releases
   • Migrants who previously were allowed into the United States 🇺🇸 to pursue cases were instead detained or rapidly deported.
3. Compressed processing
   • Nearly everyone taken into custody faced quick decisions and swift removal, reducing backlogs that had encouraged repeat attempts.
4. High-visibility enforcement
   • Interior deportation operations, media ride-alongs, and frequent briefings amplified the message that entry would not lead to release.

Experts describe the outcome as a “deterrence-driven migration management” system. With less chance of release and faster removals, fewer people tried to cross. The data supports that view: prior daily peaks of 8,000–10,000 encounters gave way to monthly totals in the single-digit thousands by late summer 2025.

Officials also acknowledge the role of early-2024 measures: the Biden team’s tightened asylum rules at ports of entry and cooperation with Mexico to curb smuggling flows cooled crossings. The Trump team then intensified the approach with stricter custody and removal practices. Together, those changes created a “new normal” at the Southern border defined by fewer arrivals, faster decisions, and widespread returns.

Data check and official context

There is no credible evidence of an 83% increase in apprehensions during the Trump crackdown. All authoritative reviews point to the opposite: sharp declines since late 2023, followed by even steeper drops in 2025.

Key data points (reported by analysts and consistent with U.S. government releases):

• FY 2022: About 2.2 million apprehensions along the Southern border.
• December 2023: Nearly 250,000 apprehensions in one month.
• FY 2025: 238,000 apprehensions total, the lowest annual figure since 1970.
• Summer–Fall 2025: 4,600 (July), 6,300 (August), 8,400 (September)—each of these monthly numbers would have been a single day’s activity during previous surges.

For primary data, consult U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters
Note: CBP’s “encounters” include more than just Border Patrol apprehensions, but the trend lines align with the sharp declines described above.

Consequences on and off the border

The consequences of the shift are visible far from the border:

• Shelters and aid groups in gateway cities report lighter intakes than during the 2023–2024 surge, though local conditions vary.
• In Mexico, advocates describe reverse flow migration—would-be entrants (especially Venezuelans) are giving up on reaching the United States and returning home or settling elsewhere in the region.
• Smugglers have reportedly adjusted prices and routes as demand fell.

Legal, political, and humanitarian responses

The legal and political fight over the strategy continues.

• Supporters argue the crackdown restores control, reduces dangerous crossings, and relieves pressure on communities.
• Critics warn the system blocks people with real protection needs, closes off asylum pathways, and risks returning people to harm.

Ongoing actions:

• Lawsuits challenge parts of the policy architecture.
• Protest groups have mobilized in several major cities demanding broader humanitarian access.

Those cases and demonstrations may shape how the framework evolves.

Practical meaning for migrants, communities, and federal workers

For families and individuals considering a journey:

• The chance of entering and staying while a case moves through the system has dropped sharply.
• Detention is now more likely, and removal is faster for most—including people who previously might have been released with a notice to appear.
• People who cross despite these rules face quick returns, often to Mexico, and sometimes to their home countries.

For border communities:

• The drop in apprehensions eases crowding at intake sites and reduces emergency shelter demand.
• City budgets that absorbed large numbers in 2023–2024 now report fewer new arrivals.
• The need for legal help, housing, and work authorization support for those already present remains steady.

For the federal workforce:

• With fewer arrivals, officers can spend more time on screening and investigations.
• Detention bed use has stayed high, but quick processing can shorten average stays.
• Transportation units focus more on returns than long-distance transfers.

The bottom line: the Southern border is experiencing sustained low apprehensions, not a spike. Claims of an 83% jump do not match CBP numbers or field reports.

Questions looking forward

Two key uncertainties may shape future policy and trends:

• Can this level of deterrence last if regional conditions change or smugglers find new pathways?
• Will courts order adjustments to detention and removal practices, especially for families and vulnerable groups?

Policy may shift as litigation proceeds and diplomatic talks continue with regional partners. For now, border data shows a consistent story month after month: steep declines, far below the surge era of 2023–2024.