The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported a nearly 50% reduction in both apprehensions and “gotaways” at the U.S. Southern border from May to June 2025, attributing the decline to policy changes under the Trump administration.
According to DHS data, apprehensions of migrants attempting to cross the border illegally dropped from 9,577 in May to 5,414 between June 1 and June 22, 2025. Similarly, the number of “gotaways”—migrants who evade Border Patrol detection—fell from 2,123 in May to just 986 in the same June period, marking a significant decrease in unauthorized border crossings.
From February 1 to June 22, 2025, DHS recorded a total of 37,518 apprehensions, a sharp decline compared to approximately 600,000 apprehensions during the same period in 2024 under the Biden administration. Gotaways also saw a dramatic reduction, with 11,867 recorded in 2025 compared to 94,007 in 2024 for the same timeframe, representing a decrease of over 87% in undetected crossings.
During the Biden administration, there was a 60% drop in gotaways for fiscal year 2024 compared to 2023, according to a DHS statement from January 17, 2025. In fiscal year 2024, DHS had completed over 685,000 removals and returns, more than any prior fiscal year since 2010.
The Biden administration had claimed a more than 60% decrease in encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border from May 2024 to December 2024. November and December encounters between ports of entry were at their lowest level since August 2020, and monthly encounter levels had been lower than the monthly average in 2019.
In the first half of January 2025, Border Patrol encounters were nearly 50 percent lower than at the same point in January 2021, according to the previous administration. The 7-day daily average of encounters was 1,150 and had been below 1,500 for 21 consecutive days in the final days of the Biden administration.
According to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), around 9,000 Nepalis have been recorded in nationwide U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) encounters during President Joe Biden’s tenure. Under the previous Trump administration, a total of 1,850 Nepalis were recorded in USBP encounters over four years.
In fiscal year 2024, 3,690 Nepalis were recorded in USBP encounters, an increase from 3,140 in fiscal year 2023. In October 2024, the number of Nepalis recorded was 440, and in November, the number dropped to 300. In the first two months of the current fiscal year (October-November 2024), 740 Nepalis were already recorded in USBP encounters.
From 2014 to 2022, only 5,180 Nepalis were recorded in USBP encounters over a span of nine years. In stark contrast, 6,830 Nepalis have been recorded in just 24 months since October 2022.
During fiscal year 2022, 1,490 Nepalis were recorded at the U.S.-Mexico border, a sharp increase from 420 in fiscal year 2021. By comparison, under the previous Trump administration, 1,850 Nepalis were recorded in USBP encounters over four years: 650 in fiscal year 2017, 720 in 2018, 340 in 2019, and 140 in 2020.
In 2014, 460 Nepalis were recorded at the border, followed by 410 in 2015 and 550 in 2016. Many of these individuals reportedly paid thousands of dollars to smugglers to facilitate their entry into the U.S. Some were released into the country immediately, while others were detained or deported.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
