The Trump administration has deported 20,000 illegal migrants in a single month, nearly matching the total number of migrants apprehended by ICE during the entire previous year under President Biden.
Key Takeaways
- Border Patrol arrests plummeted to 21,593 in January 2025, down 39% from December and the lowest since May 2020.
- The Trump administration has removed 20,000 illegal migrants in a single month, nearly equal to Biden’s annual total.
- ICE reported 33,000 arrests of at-large illegal immigrants during fiscal year 2024.
- Border crossings have decreased by over 90% compared to February 2024, potentially heading toward 60-year lows.
- The administration faces challenges with detention capacity, opening four federal prison facilities and authorizing Guantanamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 illegal immigrants.
Sharp Decline in Border Crossings
Border arrest numbers have fallen dramatically in recent months, with the Border Patrol making only 21,593 arrests in January, down from 47,316 in December. These January figures represent the lowest number of border arrests since May 2020, during the peak of the pandemic. The White House has attributed this rapid decrease to what they call “the Trump Effect,” though border arrests had already been declining from their December 2023 high of 250,000, partly due to increased enforcement by Mexican authorities and asylum restrictions introduced by former President Biden in June.
The decline accelerated after President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, when he issued orders suspending asylum at the southern border, citing an “invasion.” Border czar Tom Homan reported just 229 arrests in a single 24-hour period, which he stated was the lowest daily total since he became a Border Patrol agent in 1984. The Department of Homeland Security has stated its aim to reduce border arrests all the way to zero.
Surge in Interior Enforcement
While border crossings decline, internal immigration enforcement has intensified dramatically. The Trump administration has removed 20,000 illegal migrants in its first month, a figure that nearly matches the total number apprehended by ICE under the Biden administration throughout the entire previous year. Fiscal year 2024 saw 33,000 arrests of at-large illegal immigrants, with enforcement actions increasing. A recent ICE operation in Colony Ridge, Texas resulted in 118 arrests of illegal migrants, including individuals with criminal records.
“If you look at the rest of interior enforcement, it’s about three times higher than it was a year ago today. Three times higher is good, but I’m not satisfied.” – Source
The administration has launched a multimillion-dollar video ad campaign featuring Secretary Kristi Noem with a direct message to potential migrants. These ads explicitly warn against illegal immigration and promise deportation for those found in the country illegally. “If you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return,” Secretary Noem states in the campaign advertisements currently running in Latin American countries and across social media platforms.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 20, 2025
Challenges and Future Enforcement Plans
Despite the significant increase in enforcement actions, Trump administration officials, including border czar Tom Homan, have expressed dissatisfaction with the current pace of arrests and deportations. Homan has emphasized the need to accelerate arrests, particularly of criminal aliens, despite facing obstacles from sanctuary cities and information leaks. The administration is working to overcome these challenges while maintaining its focus on enforcement priorities.
“There are more criminal aliens that need to be arrested, hundreds of thousands. Sanctuary cities are putting roadblocks up. We’ve got leaks. So we need to increase the arrests of illegal aliens, especially those with criminal convictions. So we’re going to continue.” – Source
One significant challenge facing the administration is detention capacity. ICE has already exceeded its budget allocation for 41,500 detention beds, forcing the opening of four federal prison facilities to accommodate the increasing number of detainees. President Trump has also authorized the use of Guantanamo Bay to detain up to 30,000 illegal immigrants. If current trends continue, border crossings could reach 60-year historic lows, with recent figures falling below 200 people per day compared to thousands during peak periods under the previous administration.
Sources:
- Border arrests plummet 39% in January in an early gauge of Trump’s immigration policies
- Trump admin says it arrested almost as many migrants in a month as Biden did all last year
