In a dramatic shift from previous years, illegal border crossings in March 2025 hit a record low, according to the Trump administration. The sharp decline marks a stark contrast to the record-breaking numbers seen under the Biden administration.
A Historic Drop in Border Crossings
Border czar Tom Homan announced on social media that only 7,181 migrant encounters occurred in March—a level he says hasn’t been seen in over four decades.
“I started as a Border Patrol Agent in 1984, which was 41 years ago. I cannot recall a single month since then that the numbers have been that low,” Homan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
For perspective, illegal border crossings at times exceeded 11,000 per day during Biden’s presidency. That means March’s entire monthly total was lower than a single busy day under the previous administration.
The Scale of the Previous Border Crisis
Under President Joe Biden, illegal border crossings soared to unprecedented levels. By August 2024, total migrant encounters had exceeded 10.1 million, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). When adding an estimated 2 million "gotaways"—migrants who evaded capture—the total exceeded 12.5 million.
This crisis overwhelmed federal and state resources, strained border communities, and fueled political debates on immigration policies. The massive influx led to overcrowded facilities, increased human smuggling, and concerns over national security.
What Changed?
Since January 2025, illegal crossings have dropped dramatically. The reduction is so significant that migrant processing centers are now closing—a clear signal that the flow of migrants has slowed substantially. Several Texas-based federal and state-run migrant facilities have shut down, marking a drastic shift from the overcapacity issues of prior years.
While skeptics question the administration’s portrayal of the numbers, there is no denying the clear downward trend. The Trump administration credits the drop to stronger enforcement measures and a renewed commitment to securing the border.
The Bigger Picture
Regardless of political affiliation, the reality is that border security has undergone a massive transformation in just a few months. The U.S. is seeing a level of control at the southern border that has been absent for years. Whether this trend will continue remains to be seen, but for now, border crossings are at their lowest point in decades—a striking shift from the chaos of recent years.
