Trump Administration Reports 15 Months of Zero Border Releases

The Trump administration announced on August 14, 2026, that the United States has achieved 15 consecutive months with zero releases of undocumented migrants at the southern border. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection data show that Border Patrol agents apprehended 9,295 people along the southwest border in July, a 6 percent decrease from June. Officials stated that daily apprehensions have dropped 94 percent compared to the monthly average during the Joe Biden administration, reaching a 30-year low.

While illegal crossings have declined, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 26 percent increase in the weight of nationwide drug seizures in July compared to July 2024, including 1,054 pounds of fentanyl. The agency also blocked $83 million in shipments for suspected forced labor violations and seized 2.9 million counterfeit goods valued at over $2 billion. Additionally, the agency identified $23 billion in tariff duties for collection in July.

Enforcement efforts have expanded to include targeted arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as Operation Safe Community—Atlanta in Georgia, which resulted in over 1,200 arrests. The administration has also imposed more than $84 billion in civil fines on illegal immigrants, including a $998-per-day charge for those who fail to leave after a removal order. Democratic lawmakers, led by Senator Alex Padilla, have criticized these fines as intimidation tactics. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act to criminalize visa overstays and end catch-and-release policies.