Migrant crossings at U.S.-Mexico border stay at historically low levels 3 months into Trump crackdown

Migrant crossings at U.S.-Mexico border stay at historically low levels 3 months into Trump crackdown

The number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border unlawfully continued to be at a historically low level in April, three full months into President Trump’s aggressive efforts to curtail illegal immigration, according to internal federal data obtained by CBS News. 

In April, Border Patrol agents recorded roughly 8,400 apprehensions of migrants who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization, according to the preliminary Department of Homeland Security statistics, which have not been officially published.

April’s preliminary tally, which could be adjusted once the data is officially published, is a slight increase from March, when Border Patrol recorded 7,200 apprehensions at the southern border. And it is nearly identical to the 8,300 apprehensions the agency recorded there in February.

The number of illegal crossings during Mr. Trump’s first three full months in office represents a seismic change at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

The apprehensions reported in February, March and April are the lowest tallies recorded by the Border Patrol in its public monthly dataset, which stretches back to fiscal year 2000. The last time Border Patrol averaged fewer than 9,000 monthly apprehensions along the southern border over a year was in the late 1960s, according to historical agency figures.

Eagle Pass, Texas, said his border town was “ground zero” during the migration crisis faced by the Biden administration. In late 2023, thousands of migrants crossed into the Eagle Pass area daily. But he said that has changed markedly since Mr. Trump took office.

“The numbers are super low — almost non-existent,” Salinas said Thursday.

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Source: cbsnews.com