Americans who thought the border crisis would never end are seeing a historic reversal, as the southern border now records its lowest illegal crossings in decades—but the real story is how quickly this turnaround exposes just how unnecessary years of chaos truly were.
At a Glance
- Illegal border crossings have dropped by 99.99% in the first 100 days of the new administration.
- Daily border encounters are down by 93% from Biden-era highs, with less than 7,200 in March 2025.
- Policies now prioritize enforcement, with rapid deportations and expanded criteria for ICE arrests.
- The previous administration’s open-border legacy left nearly 11 million encounters and 650,000 criminal aliens inside the U.S.
The Border Crisis: Years of Avoidable Chaos
Border security has become the litmus test for whether a government values its own citizens’ safety and sovereignty. Under the Biden-Harris administration, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) faced more than 11 million encounters from 2021 to 2024, dwarfing the 3.1 million from 2017 to 2020. During that time, monthly border encounters soared to nearly 160,000 on average, with daily peaks of 15,000. This open-border approach allowed not just economic migrants but criminals, gang members, and even potential terrorists to pour in. Border Patrol agents arrested 56,154 aliens with criminal convictions or outstanding warrants from 2021 onward—over double the 21,936 from the previous four years. Even more alarming, recently released ICE data showed 650,000 criminal aliens currently counted on the Non-Detained Docket, roaming free inside the country. Add to that nearly two million “gotaways”—migrants who slipped through undetected, with many surveillance cameras left inoperable. The result has been a public safety and national security crisis, the likes of which this country has never seen.
This border disaster was not just a humanitarian issue—it was a calculated gamble with American lives and resources. For years, ordinary citizens were told nothing could be done, that “root causes” in other countries mattered more than the security of our own neighborhoods. Meanwhile, criminals and cartel members took full advantage. The previous administration’s refusal to enforce the law not only incentivized illegal entry but actively undermined the rule of law, family safety, and the very concept of citizenship itself.
A New Approach: Enforcement Restored, Security Regained
In just 100 days, the new administration has flipped the script on border security. March 2025 saw fewer than 7,200 border encounters—down 93% from the chaos of the prior regime. Encounters with “gotaways,” the most direct threat to public safety, are down 95%. Migrant crossings overall have plunged by 99.99%. Border Patrol agents, who were forced to serve as little more than greeters and paperwork processors, are back to actually defending the nation’s perimeter. The asylum system, which had become a catch-and-release joke, is now all but shuttered. Migrants are rapidly deported to Mexico or their countries of origin—no endless court dates, no gaming of the system. The criteria for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests have been dramatically expanded, reversing the earlier rules that limited enforcement to only the most egregious offenders. The message is clear: America’s laws are back in force, and the border is not just “open for business” for anyone with a sob story and a criminal record.
The contrast could not be clearer. During the final year of the previous administration, border apprehensions hit record spikes, averaging 8,000 apprehensions per day, with some days surpassing 10,000. Now, those numbers have plummeted to levels not seen since the year 2000, the earliest point for which monthly data is available. The reasons are not complicated. Enforcement works. Strong borders deter lawlessness. Common sense, it turns out, is not “controversial” after all—it’s just been out of fashion in the halls of power for too long.
What This Means for American Families
The implications are enormous. With border security restored, communities no longer face the daily threat from criminals who slipped through under a regime of willful negligence. The streets are safer, ICE is empowered to actually do its job, and the rule of law is no longer optional. The overwhelming cost—economic, social, and moral—of subsidizing illegal immigration and prioritizing non-citizens over hard-working Americans has finally been called out for what it is: an attack on the very foundations of the nation.
For those weary of seeing tax dollars squandered on endless entitlements for people who broke the law to get here, this is the proof that things can change, and fast. The border crisis was never inevitable; it was a direct result of political choices and broken priorities. Now, with a government that respects the Constitution and the will of the people, the country is seeing the fruits of real leadership: security, accountability, and a return to policies that put Americans first.
