Trump’s border policies lead to sharp decline in illegal crossings
US President Donald Trump is applauded after delivering his inaugural address in the Rotunda of the Capitol building in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. PHOTO: AFP
Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped significantly during the first week of Donald Trump’s second term as President. On January 26, 2025, fewer than 600 individuals crossed the border illegally, a dramatic reduction from the 1,200-1,400 daily crossings reported in the final days of the Biden administration.
The Del Rio sector, previously a hotspot for illegal crossings, saw just 60 crossings on Sunday, compared to over 4,000 daily during the December 2023 border crisis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 2,523 encounters between January 20 and January 22, a significant drop from the 3,908 encounters recorded in Biden’s final three days as president.
During his January 20 inauguration, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, pledging to stop illegal entries and repatriate millions of undocumented immigrants. “All illegal entry will immediately be halted,” Trump said. “We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attribute the decline to stricter enforcement measures, including increased military presence at the border and the closure of multiple migrant shelters, such as Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, Texas.
In a separate incident, U.S. Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire with suspected cartel members near Fronton, Texas, on January 27. No injuries were reported. As Trump’s policies take effect, border officials remain hopeful the downward trend in crossings will continue.