U.S. border encounters hit historic low under CBP’s new enforcement strategy

A dramatic decline in border activity reshapes CBP’s priorities. With encounters at historic lows, what’s next for U.S. immigration enforcement?

, and Administrator

2025 November 5 . 11:18 PM

1 min read

In this picture we can see a paper on the fence, in the background we can find few people and metal... — In this picture we can see a paper on the fence, in the background we can find few people and metal rods.

U.S. border encounters hit historic low under CBP’s new enforcement strategy

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is shifting its focus to interior enforcement, as border encounters have plummeted. Commissioner Rodney Scott, known for his leadership in securing the nation's borders, has overseen this significant reduction. In 2025, the daily average border encounters stand at 258, a staggering 95% decrease from the previous administration's numbers. This October alone saw a 80% drop compared to October 2024. From January 21 to October 2025, CBP recorded 106,134 total enforcement encounters along the southwest border. October 2025 marked a historic low, with 30,561 total encounters nationwide. This figure is the lowest start to a fiscal year ever recorded by CBP, surpassing the previous record of 43,010 in October 2012. Under Commissioner Scott's leadership, CBP has witnessed a substantial decline in border encounters, leading to a shift in focus towards interior enforcement. The agency continues to safeguard the nation, as evidenced by the record-low numbers in October 2025.