Trump’s Tough Border Policies Lead to 90% Drop in Illegal Crossings, Report Shows

President Donald Trump’s return to office has brought a sharp shift in border policy, with data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicating a dramatic decline in illegal crossings at the southern border—potentially reaching historic lows.

According to a report by the New York Post, illegal border encounters have dropped by 90% compared to the same period last year, with an average of 359 migrants processed daily. If this trend holds, February 2025 could mark the lowest monthly total in 25 years, potentially nearing levels not seen since 1968.

“It is astounding what the right words from an American president can accomplish,” the report noted.

New Executive Order Targets Drug Flow, Adjusts Tariffs

In tandem with the declining border numbers, President Trump signed a new executive order titled “Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Southern Border.”

The order, grounded in various federal statutes including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trade Act of 1974, focuses on adjusting tariffs on specific goods imported from Mexico, aiming to reinforce border security without disrupting North American supply chains—particularly in the automotive industry.

Key Provisions of the Order:

• Automotive Trade Exemptions: Automotive parts and goods from Mexico, under current trade agreements, are exempt from additional tariffs outlined in a prior February 2025 order (EO 14194).

• Potash Tariff Adjustment: The tariff on potash not exempted above will be reduced from 25% to 10%.

• Effective Date: Changes take effect March 7, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EST, applying to goods entered or withdrawn for consumption.

The order explicitly states it does not create any enforceable legal rights and is subject to existing laws and budgetary provisions.

Migration Numbers at Historic Lows

According to CBP data through February 11, only 3,953 illegal migrants had been encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border. If the pace continues, the month could end with approximately 10,000 crossings—the lowest monthly total since the agency began tracking this data in 1999.

“We haven’t had numbers this low since the 1960s,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, in an interview with the New York Post. “We’re talking about 60-year lows—if these numbers are sustained.”

The closest the U.S. has come to this figure in recent history was April 2017, during Trump’s first term, when monthly crossings were slightly over 11,000.

Policy Change Signals Are Reaching Migrants

Border Patrol sources told the Post that the shift in policy and tone under President Trump has already altered migrant behavior.

“The change in presidents is palpable,” one source said. “Migrants have gotten the message.”

With the administration maintaining a firm stance on illegal immigration and implementing trade and enforcement measures to back it up, officials and immigration experts say the impact is measurable—and significant.