U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped to their lowest levels in decades, marking a sharp decline under the Trump administration’s new border policies. According to data released by CBP, border agents and officers encountered just 11,709 migrants in February 2025, a figure not seen since the 1960s. This represents a significant reduction from January’s 61,447 encounters, December’s 96,036, and February 2024’s 176,195, reflecting the impact of recent policy changes and enforcement measures.
The drop follows the Trump administration’s implementation of strict asylum restrictions, effectively limiting the right to seek asylum at the border. These measures, combined with a surge in deportations and enhanced security deployments, have deterred irregular migration, as noted in a report by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Migrants and smugglers appear cautious, avoiding crossings amid increased patrols, fortified fencing, and the administration’s “mass deportation” initiative, which began in early 2025. CBP data shows that 62% of February’s encounters involved Mexican citizens, a sharp rise from the 31% share between October 2023 and January 2025, indicating a shift in migration patterns.
The decline is particularly pronounced at official border crossings, where encounters excluding Mexican citizens fell 98.5% from January to February, dropping from 24,074 to 366. In Arizona, humanitarian groups have observed migrants taking more remote, dangerous desert routes due to heightened security and completed fencing, raising concerns about increased risks. Meanwhile, CBP reported seizing just 589 pounds of fentanyl in February, the lowest monthly total since December 2021 and a fraction of recent yearly averages, suggesting reduced smuggling activity alongside migration.
These changes align with the Trump administration’s six-pillar Southwest Border Security and Preparedness Plan, which emphasizes surging resources, targeting smuggling networks, and partnering with Mexico and other regional allies to deter irregular migration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deployed advanced technologies, such as drones, sensors, and autonomous surveillance towers, to bolster border security, as outlined on its official website. Mexico has also stepped up its enforcement, with reports of increased checkpoints and deportations, contributing to the drop.
Critics, including immigration advocates, argue the policies have created a humanitarian crisis, pushing migrants into perilous routes and limiting legal asylum pathways. Supporters, however, point to the data as evidence of effective border management. The WOLA report notes that while encounters are down, the underlying drivers of migration—violence, poverty, and climate change in Central America and beyond—persist, potentially leading to future surges if conditions worsen.
As of March 2025, the U.S.-Mexico border remains a focal point of national debate, with this historic low in crossings shaping discussions on immigration policy, security, and humanitarian needs. The sustainability of these trends will depend on continued enforcement, regional cooperation, and addressing root causes of migration.
USA = Green
Orange = Mexico
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