Fact check: What were the total US border crossings in May 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported approximately 29,560-29,576 total encounters nationwide in May 2025, calculated from an average of 952 encounters per day ^[1]. This represents a 2% decrease from April 2025 ^[1].

The data shows a significant breakdown between different types of encounters:

• 8,725 encounters occurred between ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border (illegal crossings) ^{[1] [2]}
• 3,727 encounters happened at official ports of entry ^[1]
• Total U.S.-Mexico border encounters: 12,452 ^{[1] [3]}

The remaining encounters (approximately 17,000) would represent encounters at other borders and ports of entry nationwide. Notably, all individuals who crossed illegally were either expelled or detained rather than being released into the country ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial historical context that dramatically changes the significance of these numbers. May 2025 encounters represent a 93% drop compared to 117,905 encounters during the same month in 2024 ^[2]. This massive decrease coincides with what sources describe as the "Trump admin's crackdown" ^[4].

Additional missing context includes:

• The trend from previous months in 2025: encounters increased from 11,017 in March to 12,030 in April to 12,452 in May at the U.S.-Mexico border specifically ^[3]
• Enforcement policy changes: The data reflects a period of intensified immigration enforcement, with sources noting "zero migrant releases at southern border in May" ^[2]
• Geographic specificity: The question asks about "total US border crossings" but much of the detailed data focuses specifically on the U.S.-Mexico border

Border security advocates and the current administration would benefit from emphasizing the dramatic year-over-year decrease, while immigration advocacy organizations might focus on the month-to-month increases within 2025 to present different narratives about border security effectiveness.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual, simply requesting statistical information. However, the framing of "border crossings" could be misleading without proper context, as it doesn't distinguish between:

• Legal encounters at ports of entry versus illegal crossings between ports
• Different types of enforcement actions taken
• The dramatic policy and enforcement changes that occurred between 2024 and 2025

The question's neutrality actually highlights how the same data can be interpreted differently depending on political perspective - whether focusing on the 93% year-over-year decrease or the gradual monthly increases within 2025.