Trump Administration Sees Steepest Drop in Illegal Crossings in Over a Decade—Down to 197,850 Nationwide

Ever since his successful bid for the presidency in 2016, Donald Trump has made illegal immigration a centerpiece of his political platform. Trump’s message of improved border security — particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border — was especially salient in the 2024 presidential election, as illegal crossings at the southern border hit an all-time high under President Joe Biden. According to a Gallup poll conducted less than a month before Election Day 2024, 72% of American voters said immigration was either “extremely important” or “very important” to them. Another 23% said immigration was at least “somewhat important.”

Given the value voters placed on the issue of immigration, Trump’s hardline stance likely played a significant role in his electoral victory. Now, only months into his second term, many of the president’s campaign pledges regarding illegal immigration have been implemented as policy. Within weeks of being sworn in, Trump sent hundreds of additional active-duty military personnel to the southern border, halted the U.S. refugee resettlement program, and issued executive orders that expanded the power of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to conduct immigration raids and allowed border patrol personnel to turn away asylum seekers. (Here is a look at the Trump administration’s most and least popular policies so far.)

President Trump’s immigration policies have slowed illegal border crossings to a trickle. As a result, there has been a precipitous drop in encounters between federal officials and undocumented migrants. Across the 50 states, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended or turned away about 81,500 undocumented migrants in January 2025, Trump’s first month in office. By February, that number fell by 65%. In fact, the Trump administration has apprehended or turned away fewer undocumented migrants in the first five months of 2025 than the Biden administration did over the same period last year.

Using data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed how encounters between border patrol agents and undocumented migrants under Trump compare to Biden-era encounters in each state. For every state with available data, we tallied the number of undocumented migrants encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the first five months of 2024 and the first five months of 2025.

Nationwide, U.S. CBP reported 197,850 encounters with undocumented migrants between January and May 2025 under the Trump administration. Meanwhile, in the first five months of 2024 during the Biden administration, there were over 1.2 million such encounters. 

Among the 40 states on this list, the number of undocumented migrants apprehended or turned away so far this year ranges from fewer than 10 to nearly 72,000. Only seven of the states on this list have reported more encounters between federal agents and undocumented migrants this year than during the same period in 2024 — and in most of these states, the increase was fewer than 100.

Arizona, California, and Texas are the states with the most encounters so far in 2025, and each is located along the U.S.-Mexico border. While federal agents have encountered thousands of undocumented migrants in these states in the first five months of this year, these numbers are still at least 80% lower than they were over the same period in 2024. (These are the Americans most likely to approve of the job Trump is doing as president so far.)

Here is how undocumented migrant apprehensions under Trump compare to those under Biden in each state.

Why It Matters

Donald Trump’s reelection campaign was largely built around improving U.S. border security and deporting undocumented migrants, and since taking office, Trump has acted on those pledges. Indeed, illegal border crossings have fallen to historic lows in recent months, and Border Patrol agents have apprehended or turned away far fewer undocumented migrants so far in 2025 than they did over the same period in 2024 under the Biden administration.

Alabama

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +22.4% (+57)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 311 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 254 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Alaska

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -53.9% (-419)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 359 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 778 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Arizona

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -93.7% (-236,148)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 15,913 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 252,061 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

California

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -86.5% (-223,284)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 34,863 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 258,147 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Colorado

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -86.6% (-496)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 77 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 573 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Connecticut

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -55.7% (-39)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 31 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 70 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Delaware

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -41.6% (-163)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 229 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 392 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Florida

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -92.0% (-121,812)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 10,528 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 132,340 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Georgia

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -64.9% (-2,125)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,150 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 3,275 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Hawaii

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -21.5% (-262)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 958 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 1,220 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Idaho

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +14.0% (+6)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 49 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 43 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Illinois

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -77.3% (-5,653)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,659 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 7,312 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Kentucky

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -46.7% (-14)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 16 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 30 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Louisiana

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -29.7% (-907)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 2,151 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 3,058 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Maine

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -87.8% (-8,985)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,246 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 10,231 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Maryland

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +4.7% (+87)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,923 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 1,836 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Massachusetts

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -48.4% (-790)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 841 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 1,631 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Michigan

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -47.4% (-2,928)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 3,247 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 6,175 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Minnesota

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -57.7% (-556)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 408 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 964 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Mississippi

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +47.0% (+234)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 732 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 498 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Missouri

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -82.8% (-24)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 5 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 29 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Montana

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -81.7% (-4,148)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 932 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 5,080 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Nevada

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -58.4% (-331)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 236 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 567 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

New Jersey

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -63.0% (-2,576)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,515 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 4,091 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

New Mexico

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -83.8% (-47,761)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 9,203 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 56,964 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

New York

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -76.6% (-33,526)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 10,255 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 43,781 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

North Carolina

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -80.2% (-888)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 219 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 1,107 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

North Dakota

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -73.2% (-1,647)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 603 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 2,250 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Ohio

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +229.3% (+172)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 247 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 75 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Oregon

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -0.5% (-3)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 588 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 591 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Pennsylvania

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -14.9% (-280)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,600 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 1,880 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Rhode Island

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +248.3% (+72)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 101 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 29 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

South Carolina

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -37.5% (-307)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 512 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 819 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Tennessee

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -35.3% (-6)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 11 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 17 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Texas

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -81.2% (-310,341)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 71,884 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 382,225 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Utah

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -80.6% (-54)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 13 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 67 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Vermont

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -88.8% (-10,262)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,294 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 11,556 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Virginia

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -60.6% (-1,848)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 1,204 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 3,052 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Washington

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: -60.9% (-12,327)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 7,916 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 20,243 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

Wisconsin

• Year-over-year change in undocumented migrants encountered by authorities: +100.0% (+1)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Trump: 2 (Jan. 2025 – May 2025)
• Number of undocumented migrants encountered or apprehended under Biden: 1 (Jan. 2024 – May 2024)

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