Former Border Patrol Agent Tom Homan marks a significant milestone in border security enforcement under the Trump administration.
According to Fox News, Border Patrol has recorded only 229 illegal alien encounters across the entire southwest border, a dramatic decrease from the previous administration's peak of 11,000 daily crossings.
The substantial reduction in illegal border crossings comes after President Trump's implementation of stringent immigration policies and enhanced border security measures. The administration's comprehensive approach includes restarting border wall construction, limiting asylum claims, and declaring a national emergency to address the border crisis.
Trump administration implements extensive border security measures
The new administration has launched an aggressive campaign targeting illegal immigration through multiple channels. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations have expanded significantly, with the removal of restrictions on "sensitive places" for ICE agents and the initiation of nationwide raids.
Department of Homeland Security data reveals a dramatic surge in interior ICE arrests. Between January 20 and February 8, arrests increased by 137% compared to the same period in 2024, rising from 4,969 to 11,791 arrests.
The administration has also taken legal action against sanctuary jurisdictions while expanding expedited removal procedures. These combined efforts reflect a determined approach to enforcing immigration laws across all jurisdictions.
Criminal alien arrests show significant increase under new policies
The enforcement strategy has yielded notable results in apprehending individuals with criminal histories. Arrests of criminal aliens have increased by nearly 100%, jumping from 4,526 to 8,993 compared to the same period last year.
Fugitive alien arrests have shown an even more dramatic rise, with a 156% increase from 2,164 to 5,538. The number of criminal aliens arrested in local jails has also grown by 59%.
Border czar Tom Homan expressed his commitment to continuing these enforcement efforts. When questioned about potential targets, Homan stated:
We got almost 600,000 illegal aliens in the United States with a criminal conviction. So I won't be happy till we eradicate every one of those.
Border security improvements demonstrate measurable success
The administration's border enforcement strategy has produced measurable results in reducing unauthorized entries. The daily average of known gotaways has decreased by 93% since the beginning of February, dropping to just 132 per day.
This dramatic reduction follows Trump's day-one executive orders, which included ending Biden-era parole programs and declaring a national emergency at the border. The administration has also strengthened cooperation between the Department of Defense and Homeland Security to enhance border security operations.
The U.S. Northern Command's collaboration with Homeland Security has resulted in additional military support near critical border areas, including deployments near San Ysidro, California.
Trump administration transforms border enforcement landscape
The comprehensive border security strategy implemented by the Trump administration has fundamentally altered the landscape of immigration enforcement.
Through a combination of policy changes, increased enforcement operations, and enhanced cooperation between federal agencies, illegal border crossings have reached their lowest levels since the Reagan administration.
The administration continues to pursue its stated objectives of securing the border and enforcing immigration laws, with Border Patrol and ICE showing significant increases in enforcement metrics across all categories.
