Mexico-U.S. Border Apprehensions Reach 55-Year Low in Fiscal Year 2025

Historic Decline in Border Apprehensions

Migrant apprehensions at the Mexico-U.S. border reached a 55-year low in Fiscal Year 2025, according to preliminary enforcement numbers released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A total of 237,565 apprehensions were reported for the fiscal year, which concluded on September 30, 2025. This figure represents the lowest annual tally since Fiscal Year 1970, when 201,780 apprehensions were recorded.

The reported total for FY2025 is also 87 percent below the average of 1.86 million recorded over the preceding four fiscal years, highlighting a dramatic shift in border enforcement outcomes.

Administrative Context and Policy Statements

The DHS and CBP announced these figures on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, attributing the historic low to the current administration's policies. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated, 'We have had the most secure border in American history, and our end-of-year numbers prove it.' CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott added that the data 'shows what happens when we enforce the law without compromise,' asserting that agents are now 'empowered to do their jobs – and the result is the lowest apprehensions in more than five decades, and the most secure border in modern history.'

A breakdown of the FY2025 data indicates that 72 percent of the total apprehensions, amounting to 172,026, occurred during the first 111 days of the fiscal year under the previous administration. The remaining 27 percent, or 65,539 apprehensions, took place over the subsequent 254 days under the current administration.

Contributing Factors and Broader Implications

Several factors are cited as contributing to this significant decline. These include:

• Enhanced Enforcement: Strengthened patrols, expanded surveillance technology, and rapid response teams.
• Policy Shifts: Continuation and intensification of policies aimed at limiting 'catch-and-release' and expediting removals.
• Bilateral Cooperation: Increased collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico to curb northbound migration flows, including efforts against human trafficking and cartel networks.

In September 2025, the daily average for Southwest Border apprehensions was 279, a 95 percent decrease compared to the previous administration's daily average of 5,110 from February 2021 through December 2024. Furthermore, September marked the fifth consecutive month with zero releases by Border Patrol along the Southwest border.

While officials celebrate the numbers as a success for border security, immigration organizations have expressed concerns. They suggest that the reduced figures may be linked to deterrent policies that significantly limit access to asylum and restrict entry for humanitarian reasons. Critics also raise humanitarian concerns, noting that reduced crossings may lead vulnerable populations to seek more perilous alternative routes.