White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided a significant update on Tuesday, presenting clear evidence that President Donald Trump’s border policies are delivering historic results.
Leavitt revealed new data indicating a 94% drop in illegal border crossings over the past year, alongside a 134% increase in interior arrests of illegal migrants. She attributed these successes to the administration’s robust enforcement measures, including the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, aggressive deportations, and the continued construction of the border wall.
“This administration’s efforts to seal the border continue to prove extraordinarily successful,” Leavitt said. “In President Trump’s first month back in office alone, illegal border crossings hit lows not seen in decades, down 94 percent over the past year, while interior arrests are up 134 percent.” The administration has adopted a tough stance by deploying military personnel, enhancing cooperation with Mexico, and targeting sanctuary cities. While some critics try to downplay the administration’s successes, Leavitt stood by the data, emphasizing that they reflect the policies focused on prioritizing American security.
? BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt just dropped irrefutable proof the border is closed.
“Interior arrests are up 134%. This past Saturday, there were only *220* illegal border crossings. This is a 15-year low.” pic.twitter.com/eVY59sR0dT
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 25, 2025
“This past Saturday, this is a significant statistic that I wanted to share with all of you: there were only 220 illegal border crossings on Saturday. This is a 15-year low. Think about that in comparison to the amount of illegal border crossings we saw under the previous administration,” she said. During Biden-Harris open border policies, record-high border crossings overwhelmed law enforcement and raised national security concerns. Now, with Leavitt presenting new data, the administration is making it clear: the border is being secured, and the crisis is being reversed.
In his first extensive interview since taking office, Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks told CBS News that illegal crossings at the U.S. southern border have dropped by 94% compared to last year. Over the past week, the average daily apprehensions of migrants along the border were 285, a significant decrease from the 4,800 recorded during the same period a year ago.
Banks credited the drop to a series of tough measures introduced under President Trump’s administration. These measures include executive actions that have largely dismantled the U.S. asylum process and implemented expedited deportations, effectively reversing several policies from the Biden administration that allowed certain migrants to enter the country legally. During an interview at the Customs and Border Protection headquarters in Washington, Banks pointed to the effectiveness of the administration’s stringent border policies. “The greater the punishment, the larger the deterrent,” Banks said.
“I can tell you this: anyone that has crossed the border between the ports of entry since this administration has taken office has not been released,” he noted. “You do not cross the border illegally and then make an asylum claim. You can go to the port of entry, or you can go to one of the embassies in your country and make your claim for asylum.”
