Washington, October 8, 2025: Illegal crossings along the United States–Mexico border have fallen to their lowest annual level in over five decades, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting approximately 237,565 apprehensions in fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30. This marks the lowest number of apprehensions recorded since 1970, when roughly 202,000 were registered. According to data released by the Department of Homeland Security, the 2025 figure represents a drop of more than 70 percent compared to the average number of apprehensions over the previous four fiscal years.
The reduction is notable across all nine Border Patrol sectors along the southern border, indicating a nationwide downward trend in illegal crossings. More than 60 percent of the apprehensions occurred between October 2024 and January 2025. In the eight months that followed, U.S. Border Patrol recorded fewer than 9,000 apprehensions per month on average. In September 2025, the agency made approximately 8,400 apprehensions, marking the lowest monthly total since records began in their current form. U.S. authorities define apprehensions as instances when individuals are stopped while attempting to enter the country unlawfully.
These figures do not account for individuals who successfully evade detection, commonly referred to as “gotaways.” Officials emphasized that the data reflects enforcement encounters and not the total number of attempted or successful illegal crossings. Federal officials stated that the data reflects a significant shift compared to previous years. In fiscal year 2022, there were over 2 million apprehensions at the southern border, followed by more than 1.6 million in fiscal year 2023 and just over 1 million in 2024. The fiscal year 2025 total represents a 77 percent decline from 2024 and an 88 percent drop from 2022.
Border enforcement agencies report nationwide decline
The reduction in illegal crossings follows a period of increased border activity over the last decade. In fiscal year 2021, apprehensions surged to more than 1.7 million, the highest number recorded at that time. Since then, successive years saw varying levels of unauthorized migration driven by a range of factors including economic instability and security concerns in migrants’ home countries. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that all nine Border Patrol sectors along the southern border experienced declines in apprehensions during fiscal year 2025. Sectors that had previously seen high volumes of unauthorized crossings, including Del Rio, Rio Grande Valley, and Tucson, reported significant reductions compared to the previous year.
The latest data was released in coordination with the U.S. Border Patrol and reflects internal reporting verified across multiple enforcement agencies. Officials highlighted operational statistics without attaching interpretations or predictions regarding future migration trends. In addition to the decline in apprehensions, CBP also reported consistent enforcement activity related to narcotics seizures, human smuggling interdictions, and port-of-entry inspections. The agency reiterated that it remains focused on border security while processing lawful trade and travel.
Border Patrol focuses on consistent enforcement
The overall drop in unauthorized border crossings in fiscal year 2025 is the steepest decline recorded over a single year in recent U.S. border enforcement history. Authorities have not attributed the decrease to any single cause, and all figures remain subject to final audit and validation by the Department of Homeland Security. With the southern border historically serving as the most active corridor for unlawful entries into the United States, the current data presents a significant shift in long-standing migration patterns and border activity, as recorded by federal enforcement agencies.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that it will continue monitoring activity along the U.S.-Mexico border and release updated figures in quarterly enforcement reports. These reports will include detailed breakdowns of apprehensions, enforcement actions, and sector-specific data to ensure transparency and accountability. DHS added that data sharing with other federal agencies and periodic audits will enhance oversight, improve accuracy, and strengthen coordination across all border enforcement operations. – By Content Syndication Services.