Donald Trump was elected with a clear mandate: end illegal immigration after four years of border collapse under Joe Biden, whose administration allowed millions of illegal immigrants to pour into the country, strain social services, and fuel violent crime against Americans.
That era is over.
Today marks a complete break from Biden-era failure. Under Trump’s leadership, the United States has now gone nine consecutive months with zero releases at the border. No catch-and-release. No wink-and-nod enforcement. No pretending chaos is compassion.
Today in Nogales, Arizona, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced that one year into the Trump administration, DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are continuing to set new records for border security. Preliminary January data shows both CBP overall encounters and U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions remain at historic lows, with January marking 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.”
“Our agents and officers are delivering unprecedented results, with border crossings and apprehensions at levels not seen in CBP history,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “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.”
According to DHS, last month recorded the lowest number of encounters in January, totaling just 34,631 nationwide. This marks an impressive 87 percent drop compared to the previous administration, which averaged 230,849 encounters monthly from February 2021 to December 2024.
In addition, total encounters with Border Patrol have decreased by 12 percent since October 2024, bringing the year-to-date total to 126,234.
There have been “historic” declines in apprehensions at the Southwest border as well. In January, there were 6,073 apprehensions, which is 93 percent lower than the monthly average for the fiscal years 1992 to 2024. The majority of those apprehended were single adults, with 71 percent being individuals from Mexico.
The Department of Homeland Security also reported record drug seizures in January, underscoring just how dramatically enforcement has changed. Agents intercepted 816 pounds of fentanyl, 12,241 pounds of methamphetamine, 5,386 pounds of cocaine, and 17,639 pounds of marijuana — staggering totals by any measure.
And here’s the part that blows up the Left’s favorite talking point: no new legislation was required.
We didn’t need another “comprehensive reform” bill. We didn’t need more excuses, studies, or hearings. We needed a president willing to enforce the laws already on the books. That’s it.
So, no wonder Democrats and their left-wing financiers are ginning up violence and protests. No wonder Dems refuse to support ICE. They see their power dwindling fast under Trump, one illegal alien at a time.