Dems Claimed Mass Illegal Immigrant Releases Were Unavoidable - Trump Just Hit Month 13 at Zero

The Trump administration has now done for 13 straight months what Democrats spent years insisting could not be done: stop releasing illegal immigrants into the country after apprehension at the southwest border.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the milestone earlier this week, pointing readers to the newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures.

Trump Administration Delivers 13 Straight Months of Zero Releases at the Borderhttps://t.co/Ym2DrYpNbh
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 22, 2026

According to DHS, Border Patrol recorded 9,998 apprehensions along the southwest border during May. That number is 94 percent lower than the monthly average under the Biden administration and 96 percent below the peak of the border crisis.

The May total follows similarly low numbers reported throughout Trump's second term. As RedState reported last month, Border Patrol recorded 8,943 apprehensions during all of April. During the December 2023 surge under President Joe Biden, agents were processing roughly that many illegal crossings in just over a day.

Trump Reverses Biden Border Surge As Zero-Release Streak Hits 11 Months

Border Patrol has now remained below 10,000 apprehensions for two consecutive months. According to DHS, total southwest border apprehensions through May are now lower than the average for a single month during fiscal years 1992 through 2024.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the latest milestone last Thursday.

"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," Mullin said. "The days of catch and release are over. We are enforcing the nation's laws and quickly sending illegal aliens back to their home countries, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of our nation."

Some outlets noted that current apprehension levels are the lowest seen in roughly three decades and that the administration's zero-release streak has now surpassed one full year.

The lower crossing numbers are also showing up in another category: drug interdiction.

According to DHS, nationwide seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana increased 32 percent compared to May 2024. Fentanyl seizures rose 72 percent from April, with agents intercepting 795 pounds during May.

CBP reported that agents have seized an average of more than 37,000 pounds of marijuana per month during the last four months, a 61 percent increase compared to fiscal year 2024 averages. The agency also reported that total drug seizures through the current fiscal year are running 56 percent ahead of the pace recorded during the same period last year.

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said the agency is seeing results across multiple enforcement categories.

"This milestone, coupled with historically low illegal crossings, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing our nation," Scott said. "Our robust enforcement policies are working, and we are delivering unprecedented results in border security, drug interdiction, and trade enforcement."

Border security was one of the central issues of the 2024 presidential campaign, with Trump arguing that record migrant crossings were the result of policy decisions rather than a lack of enforcement authority.

The latest DHS report makes the contrast hard to ignore. Under Biden, the border became a processing line. Under Trump, the same agency is now reporting sustained zero-release enforcement, historically low crossings, and rising drug seizures.

That is the difference between a border being managed and a border being treated like a border again.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.

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