U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released its operational statistics for January 2026, highlighting the impact of President Donald J. Trump’s border security policies over the past year.
According to CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, “For the ninth consecutive month, CBP has delivered historic results—Border Patrol apprehensions are down 96% from the previous administration’s monthly average. This historic reduction reflects the dedication of our agents and officers to securing our borders, protecting our communities, and upholding the rule of law.”
In January 2026, CBP recorded 34,626 encounters with individuals crossing U.S. borders at or between ports of entry nationwide. This figure represents a 13% increase from December 2025 but marks a significant decrease—58% lower than in January 2025. On average, there were 1,117 daily encounters in January 2026 compared to a daily average of 2,628 in January of the previous year.
The southwest border saw a notable drop as well: CBP encountered 9,726 individuals there in January 2026, which is an 84% decrease from January 2025 figures. Of these, Border Patrol apprehended 6,070 people on the southwest border—a decline of 79% compared to the same period last year.
CBP also continues efforts against drug smuggling by seizing narcotics before they can enter American communities. The agency remains active in enforcing trade laws and works to protect economic security by targeting forced labor and counterfeit goods. Additionally, CBP agriculture specialists help safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources.
CBP describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization and emphasizes its role as a unified border management agency with more than 67,000 personnel working across land, air, and sea domains to enforce travel and trade laws while supporting national economic prosperity.
Further information about these statistics can be found on CBP’s Stats and Summaries webpage (https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats).
For those interested in following local updates or regional news from CBP offices around the country, a complete list of social media accounts is available (https://www.cbp.gov/contact/social-media-directory).
