Trump Policies Slash Northern Border Apprehensions by 96 Percent
Border Patrol apprehended just 107 illegal aliens crossing from Canada last month in the Swanton Sector, marking a 96 percent drop from the previous administration's record highs and 13 consecutive months of zero releases.
Border Patrol apprehended just 107 illegal aliens crossing from Canada last month in the Swanton Sector. That figure represents a 96 percent drop from the nearly 3,000 caught in May 2024 under President Biden. The dramatic decline across the sector covering Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York shows what happens when the government enforces the law.
Customs and Border Protection data confirms the Trump administration's elimination of catch-and-release policies and termination of parole programs has reversed the Biden-era chaos that fueled surging illegal crossings. The Swanton Sector recorded only 541 apprehensions in the first eight months of fiscal year 2026, down 95 percent from the record 19,385 during fiscal year 2024.
The enforcement shift coincides with 13 consecutive months of zero releases at the border nationwide, a milestone the Department of Homeland Security announced last week. Under the Biden administration, CBP released more than 68,000 illegal aliens into American communities through catch-and-release policies during April 2024 alone. Those policies ended when President Trump took office in January 2025.
"This milestone, coupled with historically low illegal crossings, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing our nation," CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott said June 19. "Our robust enforcement policies are working."
During the Biden years, the Swanton Sector accounted for approximately 80 percent of all northern border apprehensions, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Apprehensions there increased 1,165 percent from fiscal year 2019 through fiscal year 2024, reaching a peak of 3,310 in June 2024.
Border Patrol agents now operate under stricter enforcement standards, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin says. "Twelve straight months of ZERO releases at the border," Mullin stated May 15. "Under President Donald Trump's leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history. The days of catch and release are over."
The policy reversal began immediately after Trump's inauguration with an executive order ending catch-and-release. The administration terminated the CHNV parole program covering nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela after the Supreme Court allowed the move in May 2025. Expanded use of expedited removal has accelerated deportations across all border sectors.
Southwest border enforcement shows similar results, with daily apprehensions falling 94 percent from the Biden administration average to 323 per day in May. The total 9,998 southwest apprehensions last month represent a 96 percent reduction from peak levels under the previous administration.
Local residents in border communities report feeling safer with active enforcement. "I like to know they're out watching," said Sheila Hardy, who lives near Richford, Vermont. "I feel more protected."
Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, whose agents patrol 295 miles of border across three states, emphasizes that border security directly impacts public safety. "We are going to do our job with whatever we encounter, wherever we encounter it," Garcia said Jan. 21. "Because Border Patrol agent authority is everywhere."
Interior enforcement has intensified alongside border security measures. Federal prosecutors in Vermont charged only three immigrants with criminal "improper entry" offenses during all of 2024 but filed 66 such charges in 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 54 immigrants in Vermont between January 2025 and March 2026.
"What a difference, America!" Commissioner Scott noted in the DHS announcement. "The U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into our country again this month, unlike April 2024 when more than 68,000 were released under President Biden."
The enforcement crackdown extends beyond apprehension statistics. Border Patrol agents now assist ICE with interior operations, and the agency is recruiting with bonuses up to $50,000 to double its roster from the current approximately 300 agents.
Agents continue intercepting smuggling attempts despite the dramatic reduction in overall crossings. "A person was observed trying to move large boulders placed to block vehicles from crossing in this remote area," Swanton Sector Acting-Chief Patrol Agent Richard Fortunato reported in April after remote surveillance captured an attempted crossing.
Canadian authorities have increased their own border security in response to the shifting enforcement landscape. Quebec deployed 800 provincial officers to patrol areas adjacent to the Swanton Sector, while Canada announced a $1.3 billion plan for drones, helicopters and mobile surveillance equipment.
"The days of catch and release are over," Secretary Mullin reiterated. "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."
Where nearly 20,000 illegal aliens crossed through a single sector in one fiscal year under lax policies, today's rigorous approach has reduced that number by 95 percent. American communities have seen zero releases for 13 consecutive months. The data from the northern border leaves no doubt that strict enforcement works.