Today in Nogales, Arizona, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem reported that border security measures have reached new records one year into the Trump administration. Preliminary data for January indicates that both overall encounters by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and apprehensions by the U.S. Border Patrol remain at historically low levels. January marked the fourth consecutive month of declining border crossings.
“In President Trump’s first year back in office, we have delivered the most secure border in American history – and we did so in the immediate aftermath of the worst border crisis in history,” said Secretary Noem. “President Trump’s leadership and bold action have given this country a secure border that keeps breaking historic records. January 2026 marked the fourth consecutive month of decline in the number of Border Patrol apprehensions at the southwest border, with just over 6,000, and the ninth month in a row that Border Patrol has released ZERO illegal aliens into the interior of the country.”
CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott commented on these developments: “Our agents and officers are delivering unprecedented results, with border crossings and apprehensions at levels not seen in CBP history,” he said. “The men and women of CBP are demonstrating the impact of effective enforcement and unwavering commitment, ensuring the safety and security of our nation’s borders every single day.”
Data from January shows that total nationwide encounters were 34,631—a figure 87% lower than what was observed as a monthly average during February 2021 to December 2024 under the previous administration. Fiscal year-to-date totals for CBP encounters stand at 126,234, which is a decrease compared to October 2024.
U.S. Border Patrol recorded 6,073 apprehensions along the Southwest border during January. This continues a four-month trend downward and represents a drop of 93% compared to averages between fiscal years 1992 through 2024.
Of those apprehended at the Southwest border last month, most were single adults (90%), with individuals from Mexico making up about 71%. More than half (56%) were being apprehended for their first time.
For nine straight months now, U.S. Border Patrol reports having released no illegal aliens into communities inside the United States; all individuals taken into custody were processed according to legal requirements.
The daily average for Southwest border apprehensions was reported as 196 per day—significantly less than prior periods—with numbers showing a sharp reduction compared to previous years.
In addition to lower crossing numbers, drug seizures also increased in January: authorities seized large amounts of fentanyl (816 pounds), methamphetamine (12,241 pounds), cocaine (5,386 pounds), and marijuana (17,639 pounds). The majority of these drugs were intercepted along or near the Southwest border.
Finalized statistics will be published later this month as DHS maintains its focus on national security efforts along U.S. borders.
