The CBS News Confirmed team is verifying the statements made by President Trump during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, marking his first appearance before both chambers since his electoral victory last November. Anticipated topics include his domestic and international policy priorities, economic issues, his administration’s strategies for tackling illegal immigration, as well as his proposals regarding foreign affairs, notably concerning the Middle East and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Partially True: Trump’s Assertion on Illegal Border Crossings in February as “the Lowest Ever Recorded.”
Trump: “Consequently, illegal border crossings last month were by far, the lowest ever recorded. Ever.”
Details: According to preliminary government data obtained by CBS News, the number of migrants illegally crossing the U.S. southern border dropped significantly in the first full month of President Trump’s second term, reaching a low not observed in over 25 years.
In February, Border Patrol documented approximately 8,450 migrant apprehensions at unofficial points of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, as the statistics indicate.
This total, subject to potential adjustments upon publication of the final data, would represent the fewest monthly apprehensions since fiscal year 2000, marking the earliest timeframe with publicly accessible monthly statistics. While historical data prior to fiscal year 2000 are not publicly released, the last time Border Patrol averaged around 8,000 apprehensions monthly over a year was in fiscal year 1968, according to historical records.
February’s figures contrast sharply with recent years. At the height of a record surge in migrant crossings in 2023, the Biden administration reported over 8,000 apprehensions in just 24 hours on certain days.
By Camilo Montoya-Galvez
