DHS Says New Security Milestone Reached On Border Under Trump

The Trump administration is touting a major milestone in border enforcement, with federal officials announcing that the United States has now gone 11 consecutive months without releasing a single illegal alien into the country at the southern border.

The achievement, confirmed Friday by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, marks what officials describe as a dramatic turnaround in immigration enforcement under President Donald J. Trump.

“Eleven straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “The world knows America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.”

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott echoed that sentiment, crediting the administration’s enforcement-first approach for the sustained results.

“America First policies, real consequences, and a unified federal effort—backed by personnel, infrastructure, and technology—are how we’ve delivered the most secure border in U.S. history,” Scott said. “This isn’t temporary—it’s the new normal.”

According to data released by DHS and CBP, illegal crossings and apprehensions have dropped sharply, with monthly totals along the southwest border remaining below 9,000 for over a year. Officials attribute the sustained decline to tougher enforcement policies, expanded operational resources, and deterrence measures designed to discourage unlawful entry.

With crossings now at historically low levels, administration officials say the focus is shifting toward maintaining these gains and preventing a resurgence of the crisis conditions seen in previous years.

Scott, who was confirmed by the Senate earlier this week in a 51-46 vote along party lines, brings extensive experience to the role. A former Border Patrol Chief, he now leads one of the federal government’s largest law enforcement agencies, overseeing roughly 65,000 personnel within CBP’s two primary divisions: Border Patrol and the Office of Field Operations.

His confirmation comes after a contentious departure from the agency during the Biden administration, where he opposed politically driven changes—including efforts to replace the legal term “illegal alien” with “undocumented immigrant.”

At the time, Scott warned in an internal memorandum that, “The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is and must remain an apolitical federal law enforcement agency…Despite every attempt by USBP leadership to ensure that all official messaging remained consistent with law, fact, and evidence, there is no doubt that the reputation of the USBP has suffered because of the many outside voices. Mandating the use of terms which are inconsistent with law has the potential to further erode public trust in our government institutions.”

Following his departure, Scott remained a vocal advocate for restoring strong border policies, including support for initiatives such as the Remain in Mexico program, Safe Third Country agreements, and continued border wall construction—priorities that have been revived under President Trump’s second term.

After leaving government service, Scott also worked with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where he continued pushing for tougher immigration enforcement and national sovereignty.

Reacting to his confirmation, Scott struck an optimistic and determined tone.

“I’m honored that the United States Senate has confirmed me, and I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Noem for their trust and unwavering leadership. I started my career on the front lines, and now I am ready to lead my CBP family with integrity and a clear mission to defend our sovereignty, enforce the law, and put America first.”

As the administration highlights what it calls unprecedented border security success, officials argue the results demonstrate the effectiveness of a firm, enforcement-driven strategy—one they say has fundamentally reshaped the nation’s immigration system.