Federal immigration authorities recorded 98,708 apprehensions along the southwest border during fiscal 2026, a 95% decline from the Biden administration’s annual average, while reporting 17 consecutive months without Border Patrol releases into the United States.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border fell to 98,708 during fiscal year 2026, the lowest annual total in agency history, according to preliminary figures released Friday by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The October 16 report showed a 95% decline from the more than 1.8 million annual apprehensions recorded on average during the Biden administration. Federal officials also reported that September marked the 17th consecutive month in which Border Patrol released no migrants into the U.S. interior.
The figures cover the federal fiscal year that ended September 30 and represent a substantial reduction from December 2023, when Border Patrol apprehensions reached 249,740 in a single month.
September 2026 apprehensions totaled approximately 8,900, representing a decline of more than 96% from that December peak. The annual total of 98,708 was also approximately 60% lower than the number recorded during that single month in 2023.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin attributed the decline to the administration’s immigration enforcement policies and cooperation among federal agencies.
“President Trump promised the American people a secure border, and the data proves he delivered. Over the past year, CBP recorded its lowest numbers in American history. A stark contrast to Biden, where CBP recorded its highest illegal immigration numbers ever,” Mullin said.
“The results could not be clearer: strong enforcement works. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the hard work of CBP and DHS law enforcement personnel, we have restored control of the border and made America safer than ever.”
Nationwide Encounters Decline to 379,243
The DHS report also documented a substantial reduction in immigration encounters nationwide, which include enforcement activity at the southwest border, northern border and other ports of entry.
Preliminary figures showed 379,243 nationwide encounters during fiscal 2026, compared with approximately 2.7 million annually during the Biden administration.
That represented an 88% decline from fiscal 2023, when nationwide encounters reached their highest recorded annual level.
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The administration also reported that fiscal 2026 was the first complete fiscal year without Border Patrol releases into the country’s interior, continuing a monthly trend that began in 2025.
The agency’s zero-release figure refers specifically to migrants released by Border Patrol and does not mean that no migrants entered the country through other immigration processes.
CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott said the results reflected coordinated enforcement efforts and expanded resources for personnel assigned to border security.
“FY 2026 demonstrated what focused enforcement, strong partnerships, and the commitment of our frontline personnel can achieve,” Scott said. “DHS and CBP are securing the border, stopping dangerous drugs and criminals, protecting communities, and ensuring our personnel have the resources necessary for this critical mission.”
The September figures also confirmed an earlier Breitbart Texas report documenting the continued decline in southwest border crossings.
Immigration Enforcement Measures Implemented After Trump’s Return
The reduction followed a series of executive actions President Donald Trump signed on January 20, 2025, establishing new immigration enforcement priorities.
The administration issued 10 executive orders and related directives addressing border security, immigration enforcement and transnational criminal organizations, including Mexican drug cartels.
Among the measures was a declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, allowing the administration to mobilize additional federal resources and expand cooperation among immigration, military and law enforcement agencies.
The administration also imposed stricter detention and removal procedures while limiting the release of migrants apprehended after crossing the border illegally.
Officials have credited those measures with discouraging attempted unlawful crossings and reducing the number of migrants seeking entry between official ports.
However, migration patterns also reflect economic conditions, regional immigration policies and enforcement measures implemented by other countries, including Mexico.
Border Construction and Drug Enforcement Continue
In addition to declining apprehensions, DHS reported progress in border infrastructure construction and drug interdiction operations during fiscal 2026.
According to the department, CBP completed approximately 250 miles of new border barriers after January 20, 2025. The total included primary and secondary barriers, waterborne barriers and supporting surveillance technology.
Federal funding also supported the expansion of Smart Wall projects, combining physical barriers with monitoring equipment and other border security systems.
From September 2025 through September 2026, CBP obligated approximately $34.3 billion for border infrastructure projects across southwestern states.
The agency reported seizing nearly 1 million pounds of illegal drugs during fiscal 2026, approximately 63% more than the 600,000-pound annual average recorded over the preceding four years.
Federal officials also reported that deaths identified by Border Patrol declined nearly 80% compared with figures from the Biden administration.
Despite the reduction in crossings, CBP continued emergency response activities, with its Office of Field Operations responding to more than 3,000 medical emergencies during the fiscal year.
Those operations included administering CPR to more than 50 individuals experiencing cardiac arrest and providing naloxone in suspected opioid overdoses.
Federal Agencies Report Additional Enforcement Results
CBP also released data concerning trade enforcement and investigations involving counterfeit products and goods suspected of being produced through forced labor.
During fiscal 2026, the agency stopped more than 4,000 shipments valued at over $325 million because of suspected forced-labor violations.
Officials additionally reported the seizure of approximately 55.5 million counterfeit products with an estimated value exceeding $12.6 billion.
Those seizures included 476,903 products valued at more than $33 million that allegedly infringed intellectual property associated with the FIFA World Cup.
The administration has described its immigration, drug interdiction and trade enforcement activities as components of a broader border security strategy.
The preliminary fiscal 2026 figures document substantial reductions in recorded migrant apprehensions and encounters compared with previous years. They do not independently measure every aspect of border security, including undetected crossings, but establish that apprehensions reached their lowest annual level in Border Patrol’s history.
Finalized CBP statistics may include revisions to the preliminary totals released October 16.
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