The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the southern border has experienced 16 consecutive months without releasing migrants into the country following their apprehension for illegal crossings. This development signifies a notable departure from the release policies implemented during the previous administration, as highlighted by both DHS and US Customs and Border Protection.
In August 2024, by comparison, Border Patrol released more than 10,000 people along the southwest border, according to DHS. DHS reported 8,870 southwest- border apprehensions in August, while nationwide apprehensions stood at 10,939, according to figures cited in the latest border update. It means DHS says migrants apprehended after illegal crossings are not being released into the country as part of the administration’s border-release policy.
The “zero releases” figure therefore does not mean nobody is being apprehended at the border. DHS says the combination of apprehension, detention and removal has replaced the previous release approach. The administration says detention and removal are now the standard consequences of illegal border crossings, although the exact process can vary depending on an individual’s case.
For people subject to removal, the government can pursue removal from the US. Those seeking asylum or otherwise raising protection claims may enter separate legal processes, depending on their circumstances and eligibility. The administration is presenting the figure as evidence that its border strategy has fundamentally changed. At the same time, the number of people attempting to cross has fallen sharply.
DHS said Border Patrol recorded 8,870 apprehensions along the southwest border in August, 5% fewer than in July. The department said August apprehensions were 94% below the monthly average during the Biden administration.
People who cross illegally are now being “apprehended, detained and removed” rather than released into the US, according to CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has similarly said the administration has ended what it describes as “catch and release. The key question for migrants who are caught crossing is what happens next. The first step is apprehension by Border Patrol.
