Homeland Security continued its record streak of border calm, announcing another drop in illegal immigrants caught at the southern border in December.
The Border Patrol also reported an eighth straight month without a single catch-and-release of illegal immigrants caught along the U.S.-Mexico boundary.
The 6,478 illegal immigrants nabbed by agents on the southern border comes out to 209 a day. Two years ago, in December 2023, the worst month in border history, the Biden administration regularly recorded days with more than 10,000 migrants caught.
And a majority of those were being caught and released into the U.S.
Even last December, when things had already cooled, the Border Patrol still caught and released 7,041 migrants along the southern border.
This past December, that figure was zero.
“Our agents and officers have set a new standard for border security, achieving historic results that speak for themselves,” said Rodney Scott, commissioner at Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the boundaries.
Other yardsticks are just as promising.
Of the roughly 6,500 migrants nabbed by agents at the southern border, just 545 were unaccompanied children and 392 came as family units — at least one parent and child traveling together.
That was less than 15% of the total.
During some months under the Biden administration that figure would top 50% of the tally.
At the northern border, agents recorded 434 apprehensions, the lowest rate since September 2022. That suggests that migrants have not found ways to circumvent the border by heading north.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the dedication of DHS law enforcement, America’s borders are safer than any time in our nation’s history,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said. “Month after month, we are delivering results that were once thought impossible: the most secure border in history and unmatched enforcement successes.”
