Noem Cites Record‑Low CBP Encounters, Zero Parole Releases to Call Border 'Most Secure in History'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared Friday that the U.S. border is the "most secure" in the nation’s history, pointing to newly released Customs and Border Protection data showing an eighth straight month of zero parole releases and what CBP calls record‑low encounter numbers. According to CBP, total nationwide encounters from October through December 2025 fell to 91,603 — the lowest first‑quarter total on record — with December encounters at 30,698, a 92% drop from the Biden‑era monthly peak of 370,883. Along the southwest border, Border Patrol reported 21,815 apprehensions for the first quarter of FY 2026 and 6,478 in December, numbers the agency says are roughly 95–96% below averages under the prior administration. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said agents have set a "new standard" for border security, while Noem credited President Trump’s policies and highlighted that CBP seized 39,030 pounds of illicit drugs in December. The administration’s sweeping "most secure" claim, based solely on its preferred metrics, will feed an election‑year fight over whether sharply lower apprehension and parole figures reflect genuine control of the border or simply a different mix of enforcement tools and humanitarian policies that remain contested and only partly transparent.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on X that "America’s borders are safer than any time in our nation’s history," citing an eighth straight month of zero parole releases.
- CBP reports 91,603 total nationwide encounters from October through December 2025, the lowest first quarter ever recorded, with 30,698 encounters in December — down 92% from a 370,883 peak under Biden.
- Southwest Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 21,815 in Q1 FY 2026 and 6,478 in December, which CBP says is a 95–96% drop from Biden‑era averages, while agents seized 39,030 pounds of illicit drugs in December.
📊 Relevant Data
More than half of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border come from six Latin American countries, driven by worsening violence, poverty, and other factors pushing them to leave.
Why Six Countries Account for Most Migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border — Council on Foreign Relations
The foreign-born population in the US reached 53.3 million in January 2025, representing 16% of the total population, the highest number and share on record.
Foreign-Born Number and Share of U.S. Population at All-Time Highs in January 2025 — Center for Immigration Studies
Immigration has accounted for almost half of U.S. labor force growth since 1995, and tighter curbs could slow economic growth by reducing labor supply.
How Tighter Curbs on Immigration Impact the U.S. Economy — EconoFact
Immigration has reduced the wages of low-skilled native-born workers by some estimates, while having minimal effects on others.
What Immigration Means For U.S. Employment and Wages — Brookings Institution
The Biden administration used humanitarian parole to release over 500,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela into the U.S. starting in 2022.
DHS Issues Notices of Termination for the CHNV Parole Program and Encourages Parolees to Self-Deport — Department of Homeland Security
The Biden administration paroled an estimated 2.8 million otherwise inadmissible aliens into the country through expanded use of parole authority.
The Fiscal Consequences of Parole During the Biden Administration — House Committee on Homeland Security
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"The WSJ opinion praises the Trump administration’s enforcement‑first approach to immigration—citing the steep drop in illegal crossings reported by DHS/CBP—and argues that having achieved clear border gains via executive action, the president should consolidate that win rather than press forward into politically costly deportation or comprehensive status changes."
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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