SAT . “JUST GETTING STARTED”: DHS Reports Historic Drop in Illegal Border Crossings Under Trump
WASHINGTON — Illegal border crossings plunged by 93% year-over-year, fentanyl trafficking was cut nearly in half, and hundreds of thousands of criminal illegal immigrants were either arrested or deported, according to a newly released year-end report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The report highlights what DHS officials describe as a dramatic shift in border enforcement outcomes following the return of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies. Federal authorities say intensified border security operations, expanded removals, and aggressive targeting of transnational criminal networks have reshaped conditions at the southern border.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are making America safe again and putting the American people first,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement accompanying the report. “These numbers show that strong enforcement works.”
According to DHS data, fentanyl seizures and trafficking routes were significantly disrupted, dealing a major blow to drug cartels that have long exploited gaps in border enforcement. Officials also emphasized that deportations focused heavily on individuals with serious criminal records, including gang affiliation and violent offenses.
Administration allies say the results validate Trump’s long-standing argument that strict border control is essential to public safety and national security. Critics, however, are expected to scrutinize the methodology and raise concerns about humanitarian impacts and long-term sustainability.
Still, DHS officials framed the report as a starting point rather than a finish line.
“This is not the end,” one senior official said. “We’re just getting started.”
