The House Committee on Homeland Security has released its latest “Border Brief” factsheet, noting what it describes as continued historic progress in border security under the Trump administration. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there were 60,940 encounters nationwide in October and November, a figure 28 percent lower than the previous record low for this period. The start of Fiscal Year 2026 is being reported as the lowest start to a fiscal year in terms of border encounters.
November 2025 saw 30,375 nationwide encounters, which was even lower than October’s numbers. The committee attributes these figures to federal law enforcement efforts and recent legislative investments.
“Thanks to the work of our federal law enforcement our borders had yet another month of record low encounters. Today, the border is secure, the flow of drugs has been disrupted, and violent criminals are being taken off the streets,” said House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY). “The historic investments in border security provided in the One Big Beautiful Bill made these successes possible, and I look forward to continued partnership with the administration to extend these historic successes throughout FY26. The Committee will continue working with the Trump administration to ensure our frontline personnel have the tools, resources, and support they need to carry out their mission and keep our homeland secure.”
Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) added: “2025 has been a record year for border security. I’m honored to work with President Trump to keep our border secure now and into 2026. Thank you, President Trump, for keeping your promise to secure the border.”
U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions between ports of entry at the Southwest border fell significantly last month compared with previous years—down 84 percent compared to November FY25—and agents averaged only 245 inadmissible aliens apprehended per day along that section of the border in November. This represents a daily average that is 95 percent lower than under the previous administration.
From January through November this year, total enforcement encounters along the Southwest border numbered 117,105—a decrease of approximately 37 percent from monthly averages during prior years under different leadership.
Since President Trump took office, monthly apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol have averaged fewer than 10,000; previously at crisis levels under earlier administrations this number reached about 155,000 per month. For seven consecutive months now there have reportedly been zero releases of illegal aliens into U.S communities by USBP.
Federal agencies are also reporting increased efforts around public safety—identifying individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes among those encountered at or near borders—and claim progress locating missing children who were previously released as unaccompanied minors into sponsor care systems.
A recent hearing held by the committee included testimony from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as well as senior officials from both counterterrorism centers and FBI national security branches regarding ongoing resource needs for homeland protection.
Drug interdiction remains an area of focus: fentanyl seizures nationwide dropped by about 45 percent compared with last fiscal year; however CBP seized over one-and-a-half thousand pounds in November alone—a jump from October’s total—with authorities pointing out that drug smuggling tactics are shifting towards maritime routes on both coasts.
According to NCTC Director Joseph Kent: “President Trump and Secretary Noem decisively secured the border. A lot of the fentanyl smuggling and drug smuggling is moving to the Maritime environment on both coasts…”
Additionally, U.S. Coast Guard operations intercepted more than forty-nine thousand pounds of narcotics worth over $362 million last month—the largest cocaine seizure ever recorded during a single patrol by Coast Guard forces.
