Border Patrol agents arrested 98,701 people attempting to cross the southern U.S. border illegally in fiscal year 2026, marking the lowest annual total in at least 59 years, according to leaked Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data reported by the Washington Examiner and Just the News.

The sharp decline in apprehensions represents a drop of more than 2 million compared to fiscal year 2022, when Border Patrol made 2.2 million arrests at the southern border during President Joe Biden’s first full year in office, the data show. The steep reduction in arrests has drawn attention from both sides of the political spectrum, as border security and immigration enforcement remain central issues in U.S. politics.

2026 Apprehension Numbers

Customs and Border Protection’s internal numbers, obtained by the Washington Examiner, show that agents assigned to the southern border arrested just under 98,701 people in fiscal 2026, which ran from October 2025 through September 2026. This figure averages to about 8,225 apprehensions per month, a significant decrease from previous years.

The 2026 total is 95% lower than the 2.2 million arrests recorded in fiscal 2022, according to the data. That earlier figure reflected an average of 183,000 apprehensions per month during President Biden’s first full year in office. Officials familiar with the data told the Washington Examiner that the 2026 arrest total is the lowest since at least 1967, underscoring the scale of the decline and making it a historic low in modern border enforcement history.

The data, which have not yet been officially released by CBP, are expected to be made public in the coming weeks. The figures highlight a dramatic shift in the number of people attempting to cross the border illegally, with 2026 marking a significant departure from the high levels seen just a few years prior.

Comparison With Previous Years

The data highlight a stark contrast between the first full fiscal years of the Biden and Trump administrations. In fiscal 2022, Border Patrol agents encountered and took into custody more than 2 million people at the southern border. By fiscal 2026, that number had dropped by more than 2 million, representing a 95% reduction in apprehensions over a four-year period.

While the sources did not provide details on the specific policies or enforcement actions that may have contributed to the decline in apprehensions during fiscal 2026, the numbers themselves illustrate a significant change in border activity. The reasons behind such a dramatic drop remain unclear, as officials have not commented on the factors that may have influenced the decrease.

Historically, border apprehensions have fluctuated due to a variety of factors, including changes in U.S. immigration policy, regional economic conditions, and migration trends in Central America and beyond. The sharp decline in 2026 stands out even among these fluctuations, as it marks the lowest point in nearly six decades of record-keeping.

Political and Policy Context

The significant drop in arrests comes amid ongoing partisan debate over border security. Critics of the Biden administration have pointed to the high numbers in 2022 as evidence of what they call lax enforcement, while supporters argue that broader migration trends and external factors play a major role in shaping border activity.

Officials from the Biden administration have not publicly addressed the leaked 2026 figures. Supporters of stricter enforcement say the new data support their calls for tougher border controls, while immigration advocates have urged a focus on humanitarian protections and legal pathways for migrants. The debate over the proper approach to border security is likely to intensify as the official numbers are released and policymakers seek to interpret the reasons behind the decline.

The issue of border security has been a persistent point of contention in U.S. politics, with both major parties trading blame over surges and declines in illegal crossings. The dramatic reduction in apprehensions in 2026 is expected to fuel further debate over the effectiveness of current policies and the direction of future enforcement efforts.

What the Data Show

The leaked numbers, expected to be released publicly in the coming weeks, indicate a dramatic shift in border enforcement outcomes over a four-year period. The 98,701 arrests in fiscal 2026 represent a 95% reduction from the 2.2 million apprehensions in fiscal 2022, according to the internal Customs and Border Protection data cited by both Just the News and the Washington Examiner.

The agencies have not commented on the reasons for the decline or on the accuracy of the leaked figures ahead of their official release. As the data become public, analysts and policymakers will likely examine both the numbers and the broader context to better understand the factors driving the historic drop in border apprehensions.

The significant decrease in arrests at the southern border in 2026 marks a notable development in U.S. border enforcement, raising questions about the underlying causes and the future direction of immigration policy. As the debate continues, the official release of the data is expected to play a key role in shaping the national conversation on border security and immigration reform.