DHS Releases Fiscal 2026 Border Figures: 98,708 Apprehensions and 17 Straight Months of Zero Border Releases
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on November 3 that under President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Markwayne Mullin it has delivered what it called the most secure border in U.S. history and is removing criminal illegal aliens at a record pace.
On border enforcement, DHS said that for the first time in American history there were zero releases at the border during an entire fiscal year, and that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recorded 17 consecutive months of zero releases. Preliminary fiscal year 2026 data show total FY26 apprehensions of 98,708, 60% lower than the Biden administration's single highest month alone (249,740), and total nationwide encounters of 379,243, the lowest in agency history, compared with 2.7 million per year under Biden and 88% lower than FY23.
On wall construction, CBP had completed about 330 miles of new border barriers through October 30, 2026, including about 139.5 miles of primary wall, 73.9 miles of waterborne barrier, and 116.2 miles of secondary wall, and has obligated $34.6 billion (75%) of the border wall funding. On drugs, CBP's FY26 seizures totaled nearly 1 million pounds, 63% higher than the 600,000-pound annual average of the last four years.
On removals, DHS said more than 3 million migrants have left the United States since President Trump returned to office, with nearly 1.2 million illegal aliens deported and over 1.25 million arrested as of October; ICE arrested 2,288 known or suspected terrorists and removed 2,143, and made 12,018 gang-related administrative arrests, including 1,965 MS-13 affiliates and 1,553 Tren de Aragua affiliates.
"Less than two years after President Trump returned to office, he has fulfilled his signature promise to secure our border, arrest and deport illegal aliens, and Make America Safe Again," Secretary Mullin said. "Under President Trump's leadership, more than 3 million migrants have left the U.S. We have had 17 consecutive months with ZERO illegal aliens released into our country."
(Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国国土安全部总部大楼。国土安全部官方照片，公共领域。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters. Photo by DHS, public domain.
