The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proclaimed the first 100 days of the Trump administration as achieving “the most secure border in American history,” citing dramatic reductions in illegal crossings, enhanced drug interdiction, and a sharp increase in arrests and deportations.
In its press release titled “100 Days of The Most Secure Border in American History,” the Department of Homeland Security credits President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem with a “remarkable, historic turnaround” in reversing the previous administration’s border policies. The agency reports a 93% drop in daily border encounters, a 95% reduction in “gotaways” (migrants who evade capture), and a 99.99% decrease in migrant crossings, stating that U.S. Customs and Border Protection now has “total control” of the southern border.
The Department of Homeland Security sharply criticizes the previous Biden administration, asserting that it failed to enforce border security laws, allowing “millions of illegal aliens – including criminals, gang members, and terrorists” into the country.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Biden’s four years saw an average of 160,000 monthly border encounters, peaking at 15,000 daily, totaling about 11 million encounters. The agency also notes that 64,000 pounds of fentanyl—enough to kill 14 billion people—were seized at the southern border during this period, while only 113,000 administrative arrests were made in Fiscal Year 2024, and over 184,000 undocumented individuals were released into the U.S. from January 20 to April 1, 2021. In contrast, the Department of Homeland Security highlights that March 2025 recorded the lowest monthly border encounters in history at under 7,200, with a single-day low of fewer than 200 in February 2025.
Key to the Trump administration’s success, as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, are policies like reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” program, ending Biden-era parole programs such as CBP One, and declaring a national emergency at the border. The agency reports a 54% drop in fentanyl traffic at the southern border in March 2025 compared to March 2024, driven by President Trump’s negotiations with Mexico, which resulted in the largest fentanyl seizure in Mexico’s history—1,500 kilograms—and the arrest of over 6,000 drug traffickers.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security states that over 151,000 undocumented individuals have been arrested and 135,000 deported in 100 days, surpassing Biden’s entire Fiscal Year 2024. This includes 600 members of the Tren de Aragua gang and thousands of MS-13 and 18th Street gang members either apprehended or deported, DHS claims.
Central to these efforts is “Operation Tidal Wave,” a multi-agency immigration enforcement initiative under ICE’s 287(g) program, which the Department of Homeland Security describes as a “preview of what is to come.” The operation, involving state and local law enforcement, has led to 780 arrests in four days, targeting serious offenders like MS-13 members, murderers, and drug traffickers, with a 317% increase in federal/state partner agreements.
The Department of Homeland Security also credits measures like resuming border wall construction, expanding ICE’s authority through partnerships with federal agencies and the Texas National Guard, and lifting Biden-era restrictions on enforcement in areas like schools for empowering agents.
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Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs.
