Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared Friday that the United States’ southern border is now the “most secure” it has ever been, citing newly released federal data that shows historic declines in illegal crossings and parole releases under the Trump administration.
In a statement posted on X, Noem pointed to December 2025 figures released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), highlighting that the agency recorded an eighth consecutive month of zero parole releases along the southwest border. Parole releases allow migrants to temporarily enter the country while their immigration cases are processed.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the dedication of DHS law enforcement, America’s borders are safer than any time in our nation’s history,” Noem wrote, praising both President Donald Trump and frontline border agents for what she described as “extraordinary” results achieved in a single year.
According to CBP data, there were zero parole releases in December 2025, compared to 7,041 individuals released along the southwest border in December 2024 during the Joe Biden administration. Noem said the continued absence of parole releases reflects a sustained shift in enforcement policy and operational strategy.
The agency also reported record-low encounter numbers nationwide. From October through December, total encounters fell to 91,603, the lowest total ever recorded for the first quarter of a fiscal year and roughly 25% below the previous record set in 2012. December alone saw just 30,698 encounters nationwide, representing a 92% drop from the Biden-era peak of more than 370,000 and the lowest December total on record.
Along the southwest border, Border Patrol agents recorded 21,815 apprehensions during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 — a 95% decrease compared with the Biden administration’s first-quarter average. December apprehensions along the border totaled 6,478, marking a 96% decline from prior monthly averages and fewer encounters than agents handled in just four days during December 2024.
CBP noted that agents averaged 209 apprehensions per day in December, a stark contrast to Biden-era levels that exceeded that figure every 90 minutes.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said the numbers demonstrate a fundamental change in border security outcomes. “Our agents and officers have set a new standard for border security, achieving historic results that speak for themselves,” Scott said in a statement.
Beyond immigration enforcement, CBP reported seizing 39,030 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide in December, underscoring what officials describe as broader gains in border security.
“The men and women of CBP are demonstrating what’s possible through unwavering commitment and effective enforcement,” Scott added, “and will continue to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s borders every single day.”