BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Border Report) — Although June isn’t over yet, the Department of Homeland Security is already forecasting a substantial decline in the number of migrants attempting to illegally cross the Southwest border compared to last month.
Typically, DHS unveils encounter figures in the middle of the month for the previous month, but in an indication of the Trump administration’s enthusiasm for this month’s statistics, they have been disclosed even before the month concludes.
DHS officials reported that from June 1 through Sunday, there were 5,414 apprehensions at the Southwest border— a reduction of 43% from the 9,577 arrests made by border agents in May.
The number of migrants who crossed illegally and evaded arrest also has dropped by half DHS says, to 986 so far this month, down from 2,123 in May.
Total apprehensions since Feb. 1 through June 22 by border agents has been 37,518, down 93% from almost 600,000 during that same time frame in 2024 under the Biden administration, DHS says.
DHS says the number of so-called gotaways has plummeted since February, reporting there were 11,867 between Feb. 1 and June 22 compared to over 94,007 during the same time in 2024.
Officials are crediting special operations by ICE and Customs and Border Protection to remove what they call the worst of the worst who are here illegally. That includes targeting sanctuary cities like Los Angeles.
“Secretary Noem is delivering on President Trump’s promise to secure the border by removing murders, pedophiles, and drug traffickers from Los Angeles,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Tuesday.
“The world is hearing our message: If you come here illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you. We will not be deterred by the rioters and politicians in our mission to secure America and its border. Migrants are turning back because they know the reality is they will ultimately leave in handcuffs,” she said.
Republicans are hoping to use these numbers to get support for president Trump’s proposed budget.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday praised DHS efforts.
“President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and this administration have done critical work to secure our southern border,” Cornyn said in an email to constituents. “But there is still more to do on our end in Congress.”
Cornyn is urging lawmakers to pass Trump’s proposed budget bill that would include $46-billion to complete border wall construction, as well as:
- $14 billion for removal transportation of illegal criminals.
- $4 billion to hire more Customs and Border Protection personnel and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
- $2.7 billion in new border surveillance technology.
The bill also carries a provision to reimburse states like Texas that have spent funds on border security, however the Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough this week said the bill cannot contain funds to reimburse states for border security.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@borderreport.com.
