EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — Border Patrol arrests along the Southwest border went up slightly in September but remained among the lowest on record.
According to newly released data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered people crossing the border illegally 8,386 times in September, a 33% increase from the previous month (6,317).
The total number of Border Patrol encounters for the Fiscal Year 2025, which ended on Sept. 30, was 237,538, an 84% drop from the previous fiscal year (1,530,523).
The number of border arrests dropped significantly after President Donald Trump took office this year, going from 29,105 in January to 8,349 in February.
Despite the slight increase in September, the numbers have remained historically low.
The Trump administration has restricted asylum and has fortified the southern border with troops.
In a news release issued Monday, CBP said that none of those arrested were released on parole. Last September, the Biden administration released 9,144 on parole, CBP said.
Nationwide, Border Patrol agents arrested 10,203 people in September, a 26% increase from the previous month, but an 81% decrease from September 2024.
“The numbers tell the story – enforcement works,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement. “We are delivering the most secure border in American history, thanks to the President’s leadership. Border crossings remain historically low, and those who do cross are being apprehended, detained, prosecuted, and swiftly removed.”
The Trump administration also set a record for the fewest migrant encounters along the Southwest border with 4,592 in July.
“The numbers don’t lie,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in August. “This is the most secure the border has ever been. President Donald J. Trump didn’t just manage the crisis — he obliterated it. No more excuses. No more releases. We’ve put the cartels on defense and taken our border back.”
