U.S. Border Patrol did not release any illegal immigrants into the interior of the U.S. for the 13th consecutive month, according to new data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The agencies announced that the streak extended through May 2026, marking more than a year without any releases by Border Patrol following apprehensions at the southwest border.
Federal officials attributed the milestone to enforcement policies implemented under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Thirteen straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
“The days of catch and release are over,” Mullin added.
According to DHS, all individuals apprehended by Border Patrol during the period were processed under applicable immigration laws rather than released into the country while awaiting further proceedings.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott described the numbers as evidence that the administration’s border strategy is producing results.
“This milestone, coupled with historically low illegal crossings, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing our nation,” Scott said in a statement.
The agency reported that Border Patrol recorded 9,998 apprehensions along the southwest border during May.
Officials said that figure represented a 94% decrease compared with the monthly average recorded during the previous administration.
The May total was also 96% lower than the peak monthly apprehension levels reported during that period, according to CBP.
Border Patrol averaged 323 apprehensions per day in May, a figure officials said was lower than the hourly apprehension rate recorded during previous peak periods.
The agency noted that the number of apprehensions recorded during the entire month of May 2026 was lower than the total recorded during just three days in May 2024.
Fiscal year-to-date apprehensions through May were also significantly lower than historical averages.
According to CBP, total southwest border apprehensions during the current fiscal year were 26% lower than the average number recorded during a single month between fiscal years 1992 and 2024, per Trending Politics.
Officials said the sustained decline has pushed illegal border crossings and apprehensions to levels not seen in more than three decades.
Data from the previous administration showed substantially higher numbers of both encounters and releases.
During some peak months, southwest border apprehensions exceeded 200,000, while releases into the interior reached tens of thousands, according to government figures cited by officials.
Recent monthly apprehension totals have remained in the low thousands, generally ranging between approximately 6,000 and 10,000.
The report also highlighted increases in several categories of drug seizures.
Combined nationwide seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana increased 32% by weight compared with May 2024, according to CBP.
Fentanyl seizures totaled 795 pounds during May, representing a 72% increase from the previous month.
Marijuana seizures averaged 37,033 pounds per month over the preceding four months, the agency said.
Fiscal year-to-date drug seizures through May were 56% higher than the same period in fiscal year 2024, according to CBP data.
Officials said the results reflect what they described as continued progress in border security, drug interdiction and trade enforcement efforts.
