Not a single illegal alien has been released at the Southern Border in over a year, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday, marking what officials are calling the most secure border in American history.
The stunning figure represents 16 consecutive months of zero releases under President Donald Trump’s administration, a complete reversal from the policies of his predecessor. Under former President Joe Biden, Border Patrol released 10,186 individuals along the southwest border in August 2024 alone. In August 2026, that number stood at zero.
“Catch and release is over, consequences are back, and illegal crossings have fallen to historic lows,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. “President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would make America safe again, and he has done just that by giving us the most secure border in American history.”
Perhaps most striking: current apprehension levels sit 97% below the Biden administration’s peak in December 2023, when the border crisis reached its worst point.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott emphasized that the policy shift centers on actual enforcement rather than processing and release. “Border security starts with knowing who and what is entering our country, and controlling it on behalf of the American people,” he stated. “That means people who cross illegally are apprehended, detained and removed, not released into the United States. Our agents are enforcing that standard every day.”
The crackdown extends beyond illegal crossings to drug interdiction efforts. DHS reported drug seizures are running 73% higher this fiscal year compared to the same period under Biden. Seizures are also 61% above the average of the last four fiscal year periods.
The transformation at the border represents a complete rejection of the previous administration’s approach. Biden-era policies drew fierce criticism from conservatives and border communities who argued that catch and release effectively created an open border. Migrants apprehended crossing illegally were often released into the interior with notices to appear at immigration court hearings years in the future. Many never showed up.
Under the current administration, that practice has ended entirely. Those who cross illegally now face detention and removal rather than a bus ticket to the American city of their choice.
