US border apprehensions hit record low of 98,708 in fiscal year 2026
Synopsis
The Trump administration is claiming a historic milestone: just 98,708 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026 — a 95% drop from the Biden-era average. But the figures are preliminary and self-reported, and DHS itself flagged that historical comparisons require independent verification of the underlying CBP data and encounter definitions.
Key Takeaways
DHS reported 98,708 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026 , which it described as the lowest in US history.
The figure represents a claimed 95 per cent decline from the Biden administration's annual average of more than 1.8 million .
Nationwide encounters stood at 379,243 — also described by the department as a record low.
Fiscal 2026 was reportedly the first year Border Patrol recorded no migrant releases at the border; September 2026 marked the 17th consecutive month without such releases.
CBP seized nearly one million pounds of drugs, completed 250 miles of new border barriers, and stopped over 4,000 shipments on forced-labour concerns.
Figures are preliminary and self-reported; independent verification of historical rankings is pending full CBP data release.
The Trump administration on 17 October 2026 announced what it described as the lowest annual border apprehensions in United States history, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reporting 98,708 southwest border apprehensions during fiscal year 2026, ending 30 September. The figure, drawn from preliminary Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, represents a claimed 95 per cent decline compared with annual apprehensions that averaged more than 1.8 million during the Biden administration.
Key Figures and What They Cover
DHS reported 379,243 nationwide encounters during fiscal 2026, which the department described as the lowest in the agency's history. Officials cautioned that the historical rankings and comparisons require independent examination of underlying CBP data and the definitions used for different encounter categories. The statistics span several distinct operational activities and should be evaluated separately, the department noted.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin credited the administration's enforcement policies for the decline. 'President Trump promised the American people a secure border, and the data proves he delivered,' Mullin said. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott similarly credited frontline personnel and interagency cooperation for the results.
No Migrant Releases at the Border
The department said fiscal 2026 was the first year on record in which the Border Patrol recorded no releases of apprehended migrants at the border. It also reported that September 2026 marked the seventeenth consecutive month without such releases. Officials clarified, however, that this claim refers specifically to Border Patrol release practices and should not be interpreted as meaning that no migrants entered the United States or that all categories of immigration processing ceased.
DHS also reported an approximately 80 per cent decline in migrant deaths identified by Border Patrol personnel compared with the previous administration, though that comparison was presented without a complete historical dataset.
Drug Seizures, Barriers and Trade Enforcement
Beyond immigration enforcement, CBP reported seizing nearly one million pounds of drugs during fiscal 2026 — approximately 63 per cent above the annual average for the preceding four years. The agency also said it completed 250 miles of new border barriers since 20 January 2025, encompassing primary and secondary barriers and associated infrastructure.
In trade enforcement, CBP said it stopped more than 4,000 shipments valued at over $325 million on suspected forced-labour concerns, and reported seizures of counterfeit merchandise valued at more than $12.6 billion.
Context and Caveats
The United States has experienced significant shifts in migration patterns and border enforcement policies in recent years, with immigration remaining a central issue in national political debate. Changes in enforcement, asylum processing and removal procedures can affect both the number of encounters recorded and how migrants are treated after apprehension. These preliminary figures are from the administration itself; independent verification of the historical rankings awaits full CBP data release. As the fiscal data undergoes further scrutiny, the full picture of border management outcomes is expected to become clearer in the months ahead.
Point of View
But it rests on preliminary, self-reported data with definitions that DHS itself says require independent scrutiny. The comparison baseline — Biden-era apprehensions averaging 1.8 million — partly reflects a period of historically elevated migration, which means the percentage drop, while real, flatters the current figures. More telling will be whether asylum processing, humanitarian pathways and legal migration volumes have similarly shifted, or whether the headline apprehension number has declined partly because the pipeline has been closed off upstream. The 80 per cent drop in migrant deaths is potentially the most significant humanitarian claim in the release, yet it too came without a complete historical dataset. Congress and independent researchers will need full CBP data before these rankings can be treated as settled history.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the US border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026?
According to preliminary DHS figures, there were 98,708 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026, ending 30 September. The department described this as the lowest annual total in US history, though independent verification of the historical ranking awaits full CBP data release.
How does the fiscal 2026 figure compare to the Biden administration?
DHS claims a 95 per cent decline compared with annual apprehensions that averaged more than 1.8 million during the Biden administration. The comparison uses a period of historically elevated migration as its baseline, a factor analysts say should be considered when evaluating the scale of the drop.
What did Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin say about the data?
Secretary Mullin credited the Trump administration's enforcement policies, stating: 'President Trump promised the American people a secure border, and the data proves he delivered.' CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott similarly credited frontline personnel and interagency cooperation.
What does 'no migrant releases at the border' mean?
DHS said fiscal 2026 was the first year Border Patrol recorded no releases of apprehended migrants at the southwest border, with September marking the 17th consecutive month without such releases. Officials clarified this refers specifically to Border Patrol release practices and does not mean that all migration or immigration processing ceased.
What other enforcement actions did CBP report for fiscal year 2026?
CBP reported seizing nearly one million pounds of drugs — about 63 per cent above the prior four-year average — completing 250 miles of new border barriers, blocking over 4,000 shipments worth more than $325 million on forced-labour grounds, and seizing counterfeit goods valued at more than $12.6 billion.
