The Trump administration says it has achieved something that had become almost unthinkable during the height of the border crisis: zero catch-and-release at the southern border for 13 consecutive months.
According to figures provided by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, not a single illegal immigrant encountered at the border has been released into the United States through catch-and-release programs during that period.
The milestone comes after years of record-breaking illegal immigration during the Biden administration, when millions of migrants were allowed into the country while awaiting immigration proceedings.
The latest numbers suggest a dramatic reversal.
Southwest border apprehensions in May 2026 were down 94 percent compared to the monthly average under President Biden. Even more striking, total border apprehensions during fiscal year 2026 through May were reportedly 26 percent lower than the average for any single month recorded between 1992 and 2024.
In other words, officials say illegal crossings have fallen to levels not seen in more than three decades.
“Thirteen straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
“The days of catch and release are over. We are enforcing the nation’s laws and quickly sending illegal aliens back to their home countries, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of our nation.”
The administration argues that the numbers demonstrate the effectiveness of policies implemented immediately after Trump returned to office, including expanded deportations, stricter asylum standards, increased detention capacity, and aggressive cooperation with foreign governments on repatriation efforts.
Republican lawmakers have frequently pointed to estimates showing roughly 10.3 million illegal immigrants entered the country during the Biden years between 2021 and 2024.
For Trump officials, the current figures serve as evidence that policy choices—not legislation—were the primary driver of the border crisis.
Beyond illegal crossings, the administration is also highlighting significant gains in narcotics interdiction.
Nearly 800 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the border in May alone. Border Patrol and customs officials also confiscated an average of more than 37,000 pounds of marijuana per month over the previous four months, a 61 percent increase compared to fiscal year 2024 under Biden.
Overall drug seizures are up 56 percent compared to the same period two years ago, according to CBP data.
“Our robust enforcement policies are working,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said.
“We are delivering unprecedented results in border security, drug interdiction, and trade enforcement.”
The administration is also touting progress against international smuggling operations and counterfeit goods.
Officials reported the seizure of approximately two million counterfeit items worth more than $400 million in May alone. Border agents also blocked nearly 250 fraudulent shipments with an estimated value exceeding $44 million.
Taken together, the statistics paint a picture of a border system that looks dramatically different from just a few years ago.
Critics of the administration argue that some migrants may be choosing alternative routes or remaining in Mexico rather than attempting crossings. Supporters counter that deterrence is precisely the point and that reducing illegal entries is evidence the policies are working as intended.
The White House has repeatedly framed border security as one of the defining successes of Trump’s second term.
Administration officials claim more than 600,000 illegal immigrants have been deported since January 2025. The White House has also estimated that nearly 1.9 million foreign nationals have self-deported after enforcement policies were strengthened.
For Republicans, the latest numbers reinforce a central political argument heading into the midterm elections: that the border crisis was not inevitable, but rather the result of policy decisions that have now been reversed.
Whether critics agree with that assessment or not, one fact is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The unprecedented surge in illegal crossings that dominated national headlines just two years ago has largely disappeared from the political conversation, replaced by border numbers that federal officials say have not been seen in over thirty years.