January was the lowest number of US Border Patrol arrests since May 2020, with 29,000 migrants caught unlawfully crossing the Mexico border

In January, the U.S. Border Patrol detained 29,000 migrants who were breaking the law at the U.S.-Mexico border, the agency announced Tuesday, suggesting that President Donald Trump may continue to reduce border crossings.

Compared to 47,000 in December, the number of arrests in January was the fewest since May 2020, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

After assuming office on January 20, Republican President Donald Trump signed a number of executive measures to combat illegal immigration, including preventing migrants from requesting asylum and deploying military forces to help with border security. He intervened to increase the number of migrants deported from the United States at the same time.

A record number of migrants were apprehended crossing the border, a trend that peaked in December 2023 at 250,000 arrests, which former Democratic President Joe Biden experienced.

A sharp decline in arrests resulted from Biden’s June 2024 restrictions on the ability of individuals entering the country unlawfully to apply for asylum and his collaboration with Mexico and other countries to reduce illegal immigration. In an effort to deter illicit crossings, Biden launched additional legal entrance initiatives at the same time.

“More officers and agents are now able to conduct the enforcement duties that make our border more secure and our country safer,” said acting CBP commissioner Pete Flores in a statement because fewer crossings.

Trump terminated some of Biden’s legal entrance programs in January, coinciding with the decline in migrant arrests. As part of the initiative, migrants in Mexico may make an appointment to request lawful entrance via the CBP One app.

Trump abruptly halted down the app-based program, leaving migrants stuck in Mexico with appointments and uncertain about what to do next.