The number of migrants apprehended at the US-Mexico border in March fell to its lowest level ever recorded, according to initial data from the US government. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that around 7,180 migrants were arrested, marking a sharp decline from the previous monthly average of 155,000 over the past four years.
Acting CBP Commissioner Pete Flores attributed the drop to stronger enforcement, stating, “Border Patrol agents are empowered like never before to shut down unlawful entry and protect American lives.” The final figures for March will be released in the coming days.
The decline follows President Donald Trump’s aggressive measures since returning to the White House on January 20. His administration has bolstered military presence at the border and implemented a strict asylum ban, building on policies introduced toward the end of Joe Biden’s presidency. The impact of these measures appears to have significantly reduced illegal crossings.
US Border Patrol’s records date back to 2000, and the previous lowest monthly total was 8,347 in February. Before that, the lowest number of arrests was recorded in April 2017, at the beginning of Trump’s first term, with 11,127 apprehensions.
While a similar drop in border arrests was observed early in Trump’s first presidency—a phenomenon some called “the Trump effect”—migration numbers fluctuated in the following years. However, with stricter enforcement and expanded border policies, the current trend suggests a significant shift in migration patterns.