In a stark turnaround from the previous year, the U.S. Border Patrol did not release any illegal immigrants into the country during May 2025, a move that marks a 93 percent drop from May 2024's figures under the Biden administration. The data indicates a significant policy shift and underscores the effectiveness of the border enforcement strategies implemented by President Donald Trump's administration.
In May 2024, federal authorities released approximately 62,000 individuals after encounters at the southern border. Fast forward to May 2025, and that number plummeted to zero despite the apprehension of 8,725 attempting to cross. This decline has been attributed to the operational support and policy changes under the current administration.
Acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Pete Flores commented on the marked improvement, stating, “Under the leadership of this administration, CBP has received historic support resulting in another 93% decrease in illegal crossings along the southwest border this month when compared with last year,” as reported by the New York Post.
The commendations extended to social media, where House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) celebrated the achievement with a tweet: “PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT. Another CLEAR example of strong, America First Leadership by @POTUS.” Texas Governor Greg Abbott also highlighted the stark contrasts in border control results between Trump and Biden, lauding Trump's approach as a demonstration of "real leadership."
The change in numbers reflects a reversal from the Biden administration's policies, which often saw illegal immigrants released and subsequently finding employment, sometimes to repay smuggling debts, thereby encouraging further immigration, according to Breitbart News. In contrast, the Trump administration has adopted a detention-focused approach upon apprehension, disrupting smuggling networks and acting as a deterrent to further crossings.
Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan criticized the prior administration's release policy in an April interview with Breitbart, questioning the rationale behind choosing expensive hotel accommodations over more economical ICE detention facilities, and suggesting that the previous policy had the intentional effect of allowing immigrants to stay in the U.S. for extended periods.
The data from May is consistent with a downward trend in illegal crossings and releases since Trump's inauguration. Chief Michael W. Banks, on Twitter, highlighted the "continued historic lows with a 93% drop in illegal crossings last month," attributing this to increased border patrol and a strong enforcement posture that prevents a "flood" of illegal crossings and bolsters capabilities to combat criminal networks.
