For the 13th straight month, the Trump administration reports that zero undocumented immigrants have been released into the country’s interior, according to data released jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on June 19, 2026.
The announcement represents a marked shift in border enforcement compared to the prior administration. Every individual apprehended at the southern border has been processed through detention, removal proceedings, or deportation rather than released into the United States, according to officials.
What Happened
The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued formal data confirming the 13-month streak of zero releases. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement, “Thirteen straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history.”
The policy relies on several enforcement mechanisms implemented after President Trump took office, including expanded detention capacity, expedited removal proceedings, and agreements with foreign governments to address migration at its source. Border Patrol encounters have declined significantly compared to 2024 levels, with daily averages down more than 90 percent from earlier peaks.
CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott compared current outcomes to the previous administration’s record. “What a difference, America! The U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into our country again this month, unlike April 2024 when more than 68,000 were released under President Biden,” Scott said. Drug seizures have increased, and the agency has conducted ICE operations targeting individuals convicted of violent crimes at accelerated rates.
The Reaction
Congressional Republicans highlighted the statistical milestone as validation of strict enforcement policy. House Judiciary Committee Republicans stated, “13 Months. 0 Releases. Border Secured. Thank you, President Trump.” Several Republican members from border states noted that lower apprehension figures and reduced releases align with their policy priorities around labor market protection and public resource management.
The administration has credited its approach to border security on measures including the completion of additional border wall sections, reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and elimination of what officials describe as catch-and-release parole programs. ICE operations have focused on individuals with criminal records, including those convicted of driving under the influence and gang-affiliated offenses.
What This Means
The statistical record reflects a fundamental operational shift in how the federal government processes individuals encountered at the border. Rather than releasing migrants into the interior while their asylum or removal cases proceed, current policy mandates detention or expedited departure. This approach has reduced Border Patrol encounters to levels not recorded in several decades, according to agency data.
The outcome raises questions about detention infrastructure, the pace of removal proceedings, and international coordination on migration flows. Legal and immigration policy experts have pointed to these measures as representing one of the most restrictive enforcement postures in recent U.S. history, with implications for asylum processing, work authorization, and humanitarian screening procedures that have operated under different parameters in prior administrations.
