Trump-era southern border sees migrant encounters plummet by over 60% as new policies kick in

The number of migrants arriving at the southern border has significantly decreased by over 60% since President Donald Trump took office last week, according to exclusive data obtained by Fox News Digital. In the first seven days after Trump’s inauguration, there were 7,287 migrant encounters at the southern border, with a daily average of 1,041 encounters. This is a stark contrast to the 20,086 encounters in the final days of the Biden administration, averaging 2,869 encounters a day.

This decrease represents a more than 63% drop in the number of encounters at the southern border. President Trump wasted no time in declaring a national emergency at the southern border and ordering the expulsion of migrants without the possibility of asylum. Additionally, he shut down the Biden-era use of the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry for humanitarian parole.

The impact of these measures is evident in the numbers, with fewer than 600 people crossing illegally into the U.S. on Sunday, and no sector receiving more than 200 illegal crossings. Even the Del Rio sector, which previously saw over 4,000 crossings per day during the height of the border crisis in December 2023, only recorded 60 crossings.

President Trump has also deployed the U.S. military to the border, continued wall construction, and shut down parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. A mass deportation program has been launched, resulting in daily arrests of more than 1,000 individuals in sanctuary cities like Boston and New York City.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem oversaw a raid in New York City, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended several individuals with serious criminal charges, including kidnapping, assault, and burglary.

It is clear that President Trump’s swift and decisive actions are having a significant impact on illegal border crossings and immigration enforcement. The administration’s tough stance on immigration is being felt across the country, with a notable decrease in migrant encounters at the southern border. Fox News Digital will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on this developing story.

Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, focusing on immigration and border security. He can be contacted at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.