Border Patrol Reports Zero Illegal Alien Releases For 13th Straight Month, A Three-Decade Low

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that the U.S. Border Patrol recorded zero releases of illegal aliens into the interior of the United States for the 13th consecutive month.

This figure covers data through May 2026. Officials described the development as part of a broader pattern of historically low southwest border activity, with all individuals apprehended processed in accordance with applicable law rather than released pending further proceedings.

“Thirteen straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history. The days of catch and release are over,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. “We are enforcing the nation’s laws and quickly sending illegal aliens back to their home countries, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of our nation.”

“This milestone, coupled with historically low illegal crossings, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing our nation. Our robust enforcement policies are working, and we are delivering unprecedented results in border security, drug interdiction, and trade enforcement,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement. “These sustained successes are a testament to our strategic approach and the vital support we receive, thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Mullin.”

In May 2026, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border totaled 9,998. This represented a 94% reduction compared to the monthly average during the prior administration and was 96% below the peak monthly figure from that period.

The May total was lower than the number of apprehensions recorded in just three days during May 2024. The daily average of 323 apprehensions was also 94% below the prior administration’s average and lower than the hourly rate observed at the previous peak.

Fiscal year-to-date southwest border apprehensions through May 2026 were 26% lower than the average for a single month across fiscal years 1992 through 2024. Official statements noted that the sustained decline in illegal border crossings and apprehensions has reached levels not seen in over three decades.

Data from the Biden Administration showed substantially higher volumes of both encounters and releases. For context, southwest border apprehensions during peak months exceeded 200,000 in some periods, with corresponding releases into the interior reaching tens of thousands per month in multiple instances, including the cited April 2024 figure.

The current period features monthly apprehension totals consistently in the low thousands. For example, recent months have ranged from approximately 6,000 to under 10,000 southwest border apprehensions.

In addition to enforcement outcomes at the border, May 2026 data included increases in certain drug seizures. Nationwide seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana combined rose 32% from May 2024 by weight. Fentanyl seizures reached 795 pounds, up 72% from the prior month, while marijuana seizures averaged 37,033 pounds per month over the preceding four months.

Fiscal year-to-date drug seizures through May were 56% higher than the same period in fiscal year 2024.

RELATED: Ex-Border Patrol Official Launches Presidential Exploratory Committee