U.S. border encounters plummet to historic lows in October 2025
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a significant drop in border encounters. October 2025 saw the lowest number of encounters in recent times, with just 30,561 nationwide. This marks a substantial decrease from the previous year, with encounters down by almost 80%.
The current fiscal year has begun with a record low, surpassing the previous record of 43,010 encounters in October 2012. This trend is a stark contrast to the numbers seen under the previous administration, with daily average encounters now 95% lower. Since January 21, CBP has recorded a total of 106,134 enforcement encounters along the southwest border.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott has stated that the agency's mission remains 'to secure the border and safeguard this nation'. With the decrease in border encounters, CBP is now focusing more on interior enforcement.
The dramatic drop in border encounters in October 2025, marking the lowest start to a fiscal year ever recorded by CBP, signals a significant shift in migration patterns. The focus on interior enforcement by CBP reflects this change, as the agency adapts to the evolving security landscape.
