Zero Illegal Border Releases Mark 13th Consecutive Month of Enforcement
Customs and Border Protection reports 13 straight months with no illegal immigrant releases from custody, marking the most secure border in over five decades as enforcement policies reshape migration patterns.
For the first time in more than five decades, families living near the U.S.-Mexico border can breathe easier. Customs and Border Protection announced 13 consecutive months with zero illegal immigrant releases from Border Patrol custody, an enforcement milestone that has reshaped communities from Texas to Arizona.
The numbers tell a story of transformation. Border Patrol apprehended 9,998 individuals in May, a 94 percent drop from the monthly average under the previous administration and 96 percent below the December 2023 peak. What was once a daily crisis has become the most secure border in modern American history.
"Thirteen straight months of ZERO releases at the border," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated. "Under President Donald Trump's leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history."
The contrast with previous policy failures is stark. During fiscal year 2024, the prior administration recorded nearly 1.7 million encounters at the southwest border. Widespread catch-and-release practices drained resources and compromised public safety. This fiscal year through May, CBP encountered 90,121 foreign nationals compared to 405,171 during the same period in 2025.
CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott emphasized the broader impact. "This milestone, coupled with historically low illegal crossings, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing our nation," Scott said. "Our robust enforcement policies are working, and we are delivering unprecedented results in border security, drug interdiction, and trade enforcement."
That enforcement reaches far beyond immigration. CBP seized 795 pounds of fentanyl in May alone, a 72 percent increase from April. Combined drug seizures rose 32 percent from May 2024. U.S. drug overdose deaths fell 20 percent in the year through August 2025, coinciding with the border crackdown.
Communities feel the difference on the ground. In the Houston area during May, ICE agents arrested 735 criminal illegal aliens with 1,711 total convictions. The arrests included 5 homicides, 38 sex offenses, and 224 aggravated assault cases. Gang members from MS-13, Surenos 13, and other violent organizations were among those apprehended.
Border Czar Tom Homan explained the policy shift that made this possible. "There's no free ride anymore," Homan told reporters. "So if it comes to the border, you're not going to be released into the United States. It'll be removed or put in detention and have your case heard, but there's no more catch and release."
Critics have suggested the zero-releases claim misses transfers to ICE custody and potential future releases. CBP data confirms zero parole releases from Border Patrol, with overall encounters at a 50-year low. The administration has facilitated more than 3 million departures of illegal immigrants during Trump's first year back in office.
The average detention period now stands at 42 days, according to Homan, who noted the administration's focus on building detention capacity to expedite hearings. "When this reconciliation passes, that's $70 billion that will fund us until the end of the Trump Administration," Homan said.
That funding became reality on June 10 when Trump signed the Secure America Act, a $70 billion package that fully funds ICE and CBP through fiscal year 2029. The legislation passed with zero Democratic support in either chamber, ending a more-than-100-day partial DHS shutdown that began when Democrats blocked funding seeking reforms to ICE and CBP.
Public opinion reflects the shift. Pew Research Center data shows 62 percent of Americans favor maintaining a large military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration's policies have reduced migrant encounters to levels not seen since 1970, according to nonpartisan analysis.
Trade enforcement has seen dramatic improvements, too. CBP processed $321 billion in imports during May while identifying $23 billion in duties for collection. Agents stopped 247 shipments valued at over $44 million for suspected forced labor violations and seized 2 million counterfeit goods worth more than $400 million.
The transformation began immediately after Trump's return to office in January 2025. He declared a national emergency at the southwestern border, deployed military assistance, and shut down the CBP One app for asylum applications. Executive orders terminated categorical parole programs and suspended asylum at the border.
"What a difference, America!" CBP Commissioner Scott declared in May. "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. Every minute of every day President Trump's border security policies are making every American safer."