
Unauthorized crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border have fallen to their lowest level in more than 50 years, according to internal federal data obtained by CBS News, reflecting the sweeping impact of President Trump's immigration crackdown across the southern border and beyond.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recorded roughly 238,000 apprehensions of migrants crossing the southern border illegally during fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30 — the smallest annual total since 1970, when Border Patrol reported approximately 202,000 apprehensions. The figure represents a sharp drop from the 2.2 million apprehensions recorded in 2022 under the Biden administration.