Daily average of known gotaways at southern border plummets, down 93% from Biden admin highs
The number of known gotaways at the southern border has significantly decreased since President Donald Trump took office in January. According to a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source, the daily average number of known gotaways has dropped to just 132 per day, a 93% decrease from the high numbers seen during the Biden administration.
Fox News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and learned that there were 670,674 known gotaways recorded in FY 2023, averaging more than 1,800 per day. These individuals are considered “known gotaways” because they were seen or tracked on cameras, sensors, or other means, but were not apprehended by border patrol agents.
The decrease in known gotaways is attributed to the measures taken by the Trump administration to secure the southern border. Through policies such as implementing tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, border crossings have plummeted, and criminal prosecutions have increased. The administration has also seen large groups of migrants in Mexico and Guatemala turning back south and surrendering to authorities, requesting to go home.
The effects of Trump’s policies were evident in the first week of his administration, with a 63% decrease in migrant arrivals at the southern border by February 1st. There were 7,287 migrant encounters in the first seven days of the Trump administration, with a daily average of 1,041 encounters. This is in stark contrast to the 20,086 encounters per day during the final days of the Biden presidency.
Border czar Tom Homan stated that the Trump administration had removed and returned 7,300 illegal immigrants after the first week, deporting them to Mexico, Jordan, Brazil, and El Salvador.
Overall, the decrease in known gotaways and migrant encounters at the southern border is seen as a result of the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the border and enforce immigration laws. Policy changes have had a significant impact on illegal crossings, leading to a more controlled and secure border environment.
This article was contributed by Bill Melugin, a Los Angeles-based correspondent for FOX News Channel.
