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Fact check: Decrease of ilegal immigration going through illegally in 2025
1. Summary of the results
The available data strongly supports the claim of a significant decrease in illegal immigration in 2025. Multiple government sources provide compelling evidence:
Southwest Border Crossings: The most dramatic decreases occurred at the southwest border, with a 93% decrease in illegal crossings in May 2025 compared to May 2024 [1]. This trend continued through the summer, with daily Southwest border encounters plunging by 93% since President Trump took office [2] [3].
Record-Breaking Lows: Several sources report historic achievements in border security. June 2025 recorded the lowest month of illegal Southwest border crossings ever recorded with 6,072 Southwest border apprehensions [2]. July continued this trend with illegal crossings dropping to the lowest level ever recorded, with 24,628 total encounters nationwide [4].
Year-over-Year Comparisons: The data shows consistent decreases across different time periods. There was a 90% decrease in illegal aliens compared to July 2024 [4] and a 97% decrease from July 2022 [1] [5].
Enforcement Actions: The Trump Administration implemented aggressive enforcement measures, with nearly 150,000 illegal immigrants arrested since President Donald J. Trump took office [5].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original statement lacks several important contextual elements:
Policy Implementation: The decrease appears directly linked to specific policy changes under the Trump Administration, including the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) which includes provisions for increased funding for immigration detention and enforcement [6]. This context is crucial for understanding the mechanisms behind the decrease.
Public Opinion Shifts: Interestingly, Americans have grown markedly more positive toward immigration over the past year, with the share wanting immigration reduced dropping from 55% in 2024 to 30% today, and a record-high 79% considering immigration a good thing for the country [7]. This suggests the decrease in illegal immigration may have contributed to more favorable public attitudes toward legal immigration.
Enforcement vs. Deterrence: The data doesn't distinguish between whether decreases result from enhanced enforcement deterring attempts or from more effective apprehension and deportation of those who do attempt illegal entry.
Seasonal and Economic Factors: The analyses don't address whether external factors like economic conditions in origin countries or seasonal migration patterns contributed to these decreases.
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement, while factually supported by the data, contains several issues:
Grammatical Errors: The phrase "going through illegally" is redundant and grammatically awkward, which could undermine credibility.
Lack of Specificity: The statement doesn't specify which borders, time periods, or types of illegal immigration are being referenced, making it appear less credible than the detailed government data available.
Missing Attribution: The statement provides no sources or context for the claimed decrease, which could lead readers to question its validity despite strong supporting evidence.
Oversimplification: The statement doesn't acknowledge the complex policy framework and enforcement mechanisms that contributed to these results, potentially misleading readers about the causes of the decrease.
Political Context Omission: The statement doesn't mention that these decreases occurred under specific political leadership and policy implementations, which is relevant context for understanding both the achievements and their sustainability.