US Border Patrol Reports Zero Releases for Ninth Consecutive Month Amidst Historic Low in Crossings
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) announced this week that for the ninth consecutive month, agents have released zero illegal aliens into the interior of the United States, a milestone touted by administration officials as proof that strict enforcement policies are effectively deterring illegal migration.
The announcement came via a statement from USBP Chief Michael Banks, who highlighted the agency’s operational control over the southern border. “Enforcement works,” the Chief stated on social media. “Threats are stopped at the border, and lives are protected.”
According to preliminary Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data released for January 2026, the number of apprehensions along the southwest border has plummeted to approximately 6,000—a figure described by officials as the lowest monthly total in decades. This represents a stark contrast to the record highs seen in previous years and marks a continuation of the “zero release” policy that has been in full effect since mid-2025.
Strict Enforcement and Historic Lows
The “zero release” metric refers to the practice of detaining or immediately removing every individual apprehended at the border, effectively ending the policy often referred to by critics as “catch and release.” Under current directives, migrants who cross illegally are processed for expedited removal or held in detention facilities pending the outcome of their cases, with no option for parole into U.S. communities.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem praised the figures, attributing the drop in encounters to the administration’s “bold action” and the implementation of mandatory detention protocols. “We have delivered the most secure border in American history,” Noem said in a statement from Nogales, Arizona. “The message is clear: if you enter illegally, you will be detained and you will be removed.”
Data indicates that the fiscal year 2025 saw barely 237,000 total encounters, the lowest annual figure since 1970. The administration has credited this decline to a combination of physical border infrastructure, reinstated asylum restrictions, and aggressive interior enforcement operations that have reportedly led to a surge in “self-deportations.”
Humanitarian and Legal Concerns Mount
While the administration celebrates the enforcement statistics, the “zero release” policy has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and legal advocates who argue the cost of these results is a rapidly expanding humanitarian crisis within the detention system.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups have filed numerous lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of indefinite detention and the conditions within recently expanded holding facilities. Reports have surfaced regarding dire conditions at new detention centers, including a facility in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by critics, where detainees have allegedly faced overcrowding and sanitation issues.
“The government is prioritizing statistics over human rights,” said a spokesperson for a prominent immigrant rights legal center. “Blocking asylum access and warehousing vulnerable people in substandard conditions isn’t a victory; it’s a violation of international law and basic due process.”
Critics further argue that the “zero release” mandate effectively shuts the door on legitimate asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing persecution and violence. Legal challenges are currently winding through federal courts, with advocates warning that the system is at a breaking point due to the backlog of cases and the sheer volume of detainees being held without bond.
Background on the Policy Shift
The current enforcement landscape represents a dramatic pivot from the policies of the early 2020s. Following the inauguration of President Trump for a second term in January 2025, the White House declared a national emergency at the border, deploying military assets and directing federal agencies to halt all catch-and-release practices.
Chief Michael Banks, who was sworn in shortly after the transition, has overseen the implementation of these directives. The strategy relies heavily on interagency cooperation to maximize detention capacity and accelerate repatriation flights to countries of origin. The administration has also leveraged diplomatic pressure to ensure foreign governments accept the return of their nationals, a sticking point that had previously hindered removal efforts for certain demographics.
As the legal battles continue, the USBP maintains that its current posture is necessary for national security. “We are not just holding the line,” a senior CBP official told reporters. “We have reset the standard for what border security looks like.”
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