Illegal border crossings dropped to their lowest level for the month of February in recorded history, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
In February, 28,654 encounters and apprehensions of illegal border crossers were reported nationwide – a roughly 90% drop from the number reported in previous Februarys under the Biden administration.
In February 2024, 256,071 were reported compared to 213,911 in February 2023 and 250,404 in February 2022.
At the southwest border, 11,709 illegal border crossers were encountered or apprehended last month, significantly down from 189,913 in February 2024; 156,630 inl 2023; and 166,010 in 2022.
At the northern border, 4,098 illegal border crossers were encountered or apprehended last month, down from 14,653 in February 2024; from 13,052 in February 2023; and 7,822 in 2022.
The majority apprehended were single adults, followed by individuals claiming to be in a family unit, and unaccompanied minors.
Nationwide, Border Patrol apprehensions between ports of entry averaged roughly 330 a day in February, the lowest nationwide average apprehensions in CBP history.
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At the southwest border, apprehensions plunged to fewer than 300 a day. Border Patrol agents apprehended 8,347 illegal border crossers between ports of entry, CBP said, representing a 94% decrease from February 2024.
CBP Office of Field Operations agents encountered 3,362 inadmissible illegal foreign nationals at ports of entry along the southwest border last month, a 93% drop from February 2024, according to the data.
The reason for the drop, CBP says, is because President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem “have sent a clear message: if you cross the border illegally, you will be deported without an opportunity to try another day, or in a few hours. As a result, CBP encounters with illegal aliens have decreased dramatically.”
Illegal border crossings also dropped after U.S. military troops were deployed to the southwest border and active patrols increased.
Contrary to former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who created a CBP One mobile app to fast-track inadmissible illegal foreign nationals into the U.S., the Trump administration launched a new mobile app to help facilitate departures.
The new CBP Home mobile app allows unlawfully present foreign nationals or those with revoked parole to voluntarily notify the federal government of their plan to leave the U.S. The app was designed to help them comply with an executive order Trump issued, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” CBP says, to ensure “an orderly process for aliens to communicate their departure plans.”
Additionally, in the first week of March, CBP began taking down soft-sided facilities used to process illegal border crossers into the U.S. under the Biden administration. Doing so is saving taxpayers between $5 million and $30 million a month per facility.
“CBP no longer has a need for them as illegal aliens are being quickly removed,” CBP acting director Pete Flores said. CBP has “full capability to manage the detention of apprehended aliens in its permanent facilities.”
CBP plans to close three SSFs in Texas – Donna, North Eagle Pass and Laredo; and two in Arizona: Yuma and Tucson. SSFs in San Diego, Calif., and El Paso, Texas, currently remain open.
Manpower and other resources that had been diverted to SSFs are being redirected to other priorities “to speed CBP’s progress in gaining operational control over the southwest border,” Flores said.
Additionally, agents who were pulled from their regular duties or stations in other areas of the country who were assigned to the SSFs are returning to their primary enforcement duties, CBP said.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
