Trump: We have significantly reduced illegal border crossings.

Trump: We have significantly reduced illegal border crossings.

The Trump administration has highlighted a notable decline in illegal border crossings since the president's return to the Oval Office. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, the number of apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border has shown a marked decrease, particularly during the first four months of the Trump administration.

Border Crossings in April 2025

In April 2025, the number of apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border increased by 17% from March to April, reaching 8,383 [1]. This uptick was noted by immigration experts as a typical spring phenomenon, where border crossings tend to rise before falling again during the summer. Despite this increase, the numbers remain relatively low compared to previous years, with nearly 129,000 apprehensions tracked in April 2024 before Biden issued an executive order limiting asylum access [1].

Border Crossings in March 2025

The number of apprehensions in March 2025 was the lowest since the Border Patrol started releasing monthly statistics in 2000, with 7,181 tracked illegal crossings [1]. This marked a significant decline, falling by 14% from February. The acting commissioner of CBP, Pete Flores, attributed this to the agency's enhanced operational control [1].

Border Crossings in February 2025

February 2025 saw a 71% decrease in border crossings from January, with only about 8,000 apprehensions logged [1]. This was the president's first full month in office and reflected a precipitous decline in illegal crossings. Flores stated that his team had achieved "historic lows" that month [1].

Border Crossings in January 2025

Illegal crossings at the southwest border fell by 39% from December to January 2025 [1]. While the Trump administration took credit for the decrease, experts noted that activity at the southern border had been quieter for several months before his return to office [1].

Border Wall Funding

The Trump administration's claim to the "most secure border in history" has sparked debate among Senate Republicans. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested $45.6 billion for building hundreds more miles of fencing at the southern border as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill [2]. However, some senators, such as Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), questioned the necessity and cost of the proposed wall [2].

Conclusion

The Trump administration has pointed to a significant reduction in illegal border crossings since the president's return to office. While there has been a notable decrease in apprehensions, the data shows that border crossings tend to fluctuate seasonally. The administration's border security measures, including the proposed wall, have sparked debate and scrutiny among lawmakers regarding their effectiveness and cost.

References

[1] https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/tracking-illegal-crossings-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-under-trump
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/23/republican-senators-trump-border-wall/83823629007/