U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says no immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally were released into the U.S. in May. That’s a milestone that the agency attributes to tough new enforcement politics and support from the Trump administration.
Zero releases in May
According to the report, CBP recorded 8,725 illegal crossings in May, a 93% drop compared to 117,905 during the same month in 2024. All those who crossed were either expelled or detained rather than being released into the country.
Pete Flores, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said, “Under the leadership of this administration, CBP has received historic support resulting in another 93% decrease in illegal crossings along the southwest border this month when compared to May 2024. Border numbers continue to trend at historic lows, reinforcing the sustained success of enforcement efforts in securing the homeland and protecting American communities.”
President Donald Trump has vowed to stop the flow of immigrants entering the country illegally, both during the 2024 campaign and in the first several months of his presidency. He’s also slapped tariffs on Mexico, as well as Canada, urging the two countries to stop the flow of the powerful painkiller fentanyl into the United States.
Fentanyl seizures up
CBP also reported a sharp increase in fentanyl seizures. In May, officers intercepted 718 pounds of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which equates to roughly 60 million lethal doses. That’s up from 550 pounds, or 46 million doses, seized in May 2024.
Mixed messages on deportation quotas
Despite his hardline stance, new reporting from CNBC suggests that the Trump administration may be quietly backing off its deportation target of 3,000 removals per day.
An internal memo from Homeland Security Investigations in San Francisco, California, reportedly instructed ICE field agents to pause enforcement operations at farms, meatpacking plants, restaurants and hotels. The memo, written by HSI Special Agent Tatum King, acknowledged the pause could limit their ability to meet the deportation quota.
“We acknowledge that by taking this off the table, that we are eliminating a significant # of potential targets,” King wrote.
But hours later, DHS appeared to reverse course. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, told CNBC that worksite enforcement “remains a cornerstone” of immigration enforcement and that agents will continue to target suspected illegal employment networks.
Trump targets inner cities
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, June 17, President Trump said immigration enforcement will increasingly target urban areas.
“We’re going to look everywhere, but I think the biggest problem is the inner cities,” Trump said, once again blaming the Biden administration for allowing in “gang members, drug dealers, and murderers.”
The president added, “We’re going to get them out. There are far more in the Democrat-run cities sadly, I’m just giving you a fact, there are far more there than you have on a farm.”
contributed to this report.