The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced this Thursday that the Trump administration completed 14 consecutive months without releasing any migrant detained at the southern border of the United States, with data corresponding to June 2026.
The "zero releases" policy puts an end to the practice known as "catch and release," by which previous administrations would release detained migrants under conditional or community supervision programs while they awaited their asylum proceedings.
In December 2024, the last full month of the Biden era, 7,041 people were still being released per month at the border; in May 2024, the peak was 62,000 releases.
Since May 2025, the first full month after the implementation of Trump's new immigration policies, the number of releases dropped to zero and has not changed since then.
“Another month of historically low illegal crossings demonstrates the success of President Trump's border security policies. We have gone from the worst border crisis in history to 14 consecutive months of zero releases at the border. Our border is closed to those who break the law,” stated DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The data from June 2026 reflects historic lows in apprehensions. Border Patrol arrests at the southwest border totaled 9,848, which is 94% below the monthly average of the Biden administration and 96% lower than the peak recorded in December 2023. This figure represents less than what was apprehended in four days during June 2024.
Nationally, the total encounters by CBP in June were 31,626, 4% lower than in May. The total apprehensions for the fiscal year up to June are 14% below the average of a single month between the fiscal years 1992 and 2024, putting fiscal year 2026 on track to record the lowest number of apprehensions since 1967.
The CBP Commissioner, Rodney S. Scott, emphasized the impact of strict law enforcement: "When laws are enforced, fewer people violate them. CBP has established significant border security that has led to a sustained deterrence of illegal crossings."
In parallel to the decrease in migration, drug seizures saw significant increases.
Combined seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana in June were 49% higher than those in June 2024.
The seized fentanyl reached 1,072 pounds (42% more than in May), cocaine amounted to 6,242 pounds (71% more), and heroin totaled 68 pounds (49% more). For the fiscal year-to-date, drug seizures are up by 57% compared to the same period in fiscal year 2024.
The White House amplified the announcement on social media this Friday with the message "Promises made, promises kept," accompanied by an image of President Trump and the text: "Zero illegal immigrants admitted to the United States in the last 14 months."
The streak of zero releases has been announced progressively: six months in November 2025, eight in February 2026, 11 months in April 2026, 13 in June, and now 14, solidifying what the administration describes as the safest border in decades.
The fiscal year 2025 ended with 237,538 total encounters at the southwest border, the lowest level since 1970, when there were 201,780 recorded.
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