WASHINGTON — Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border reached their lowest level in 55 years in 2025, dropping to 237,538, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited by the Pew Research Center. This figure marks the fewest crossings since 1970, when 201,780 encounters were recorded during the presidency of Richard Nixon. The sharp decline comes amid a continuation of enforcement measures implemented during the Trump administration, even without the passage of new comprehensive immigration legislation that many Democrats had long insisted was essential to addressing the border crisis.
The numbers represent a dramatic turnaround from recent years. In 2022 and 2023, encounters exceeded 2 million annually, approaching the peaks seen in 1986 with 1.6 million and 2024 with 1.5 million. For comparison, during President John F. Kennedy's tenure in the early 1960s, annual encounters remained below 21,000 in each of his three years in office. Border Patrol officials attribute the 2025 drop to sustained enforcement policies, including increased deportations and infrastructure projects like the border wall construction near Sunland Park, New Mexico, observed in 2026.
Democrats have faced pointed questions about the effectiveness of these enforcement-only approaches, given their repeated emphasis on legislative reform as the sole path forward. In 2021, former President Barack Obama described the border situation during Vice President Joe Biden's early term as "a painful reminder that we don’t have this right yet," according to an ABC News interview. Obama stressed that "as a nation-state, we have to have borders," while advocating for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform to fix what he called a broken system.
Conservatives have often highlighted Obama's record on immigration enforcement, noting his administration's high deportation numbers and the awarding of a medal to Tom Homan, who later served as border czar under President Trump. At the time, Obama proposed reform legislation as the key solution during a 2013 White House address alongside then-Vice President Biden, urging Republicans and Democrats to collaborate after a partial government shutdown. Fox News Digital reached out to Obama's office for comment on the latest low crossing figures but did not receive an immediate response.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has been a vocal proponent of reform. In September 2024, Schumer affirmed his commitment, stating he would "always fight for DREAMers and comprehensive immigration reform." Earlier, in 2021, he described such reform with a pathway to citizenship as "one of the most important things this Congress can do." Schumer's office was contacted by Fox News Digital regarding the 2025 data, but no further comment was provided at the time of reporting.
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed similar sentiments during a 2024 campaign rally, pledging to work with Congress on comprehensive reform that includes a path to citizenship for DREAMers. She criticized former President Trump for derailing a bipartisan border security bill negotiated by Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., saying politicians should "stop treating immigration as an issue to scare up votes." Harris's office was reached out to for reaction to the recent border statistics, with no response noted.
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., a longtime architect of the DREAM Act, has similarly tied border security to legislative action. In 2023, he remarked that "for more than 35 years, Congress has failed to fix the immigration laws of America." Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed immigration indirectly during a hearing on Wednesday, criticizing the Trump administration's "second iteration" for going "to unprecedented lengths to upend the rule of law, violate the constitutional rights of Americans, and blatantly ignore court orders." Fox News Digital sought Durbin's comment on the low crossing numbers, but details on any reply were not available.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has also linked border challenges to the need for reform. In 2014, she told reporters that the situation at the border was "a case for passing comprehensive immigration reform," dismissing excuses from opponents. Pelosi reiterated this in 2023, accusing the MAGA movement of using newcomers as "political pawns" rather than working across the aisle. In January of that year, she argued that the "strength of our democracy" hinges on achieving such reform. Efforts to obtain further comment from Pelosi on the 2025 figures went unanswered, according to Fox News Digital.
Other Democrats have expressed varied perspectives on enforcement versus reform. Former Maryland Democratic congressional candidate David Trone, during his 2024 Senate bid against Angela Alsobrooks and Larry Hogan, downplayed border concerns, calling it a "Republican talking point and distraction." Trone emphasized the role of Latino immigrants in industries like construction, stating, "You know who builds all of our homes in the construction industry, virtually all? Latinos. Our immigration policies just don't make any sense. We need more lawful [immigration]." He noted that policies had stagnated for 25 years while waiting for comprehensive reform, with about one million immigrants arriving annually.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversaw border operations during the Biden administration, frequently blamed congressional inaction for ongoing issues. In a 2023 White House briefing, Mayorkas insisted the border was "not open," prompting Republican criticism. He added, "People who cross our border unlawfully and without a legal basis to remain will be promptly processed and removed," though encounter numbers at the time told a different story. Mayorkas attributed the situation to a "broken, outdated immigration system" unchanged for over two decades, despite requests for additional resources from Congress. He could not be reached directly for comment on the latest Pew data.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., offers a more balanced view, advocating for both security and reform. In announcing his five-point plan in 2025, Gallego said, "We don’t have to choose between border security and immigration reform. We can and should do both." His proposal includes hiring more border agents and overhauling the asylum process, alongside a pathway to citizenship. Reacting to the 2025 drop in crossings during an appearance on Fox News Digital, Gallego called it a "win for Arizonans" but warned of potential pitfalls. "We can't replace one form of chaos with another," he said. Gallego criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the current administration, describing it as a "rogue agency, with agents who feel they can trample on Americans’ Constitutional rights — including the right to bear arms — with total impunity." He urged Congress to enact "durable laws" aligned with his plan, prioritizing "actual security over lawless intimidation."
The decline in crossings has sparked broader discussions about immigration policy ahead of the 2028 elections, with some analysts suggesting Democrats may face an "immigration reckoning." Construction of border infrastructure continues, as evidenced by activity near Sunland Park in 2026, aimed at bolstering physical barriers. Meanwhile, internal Democratic divisions persist, as seen in recent clashes over Department of Homeland Security reforms and a proposed Schumer-Trump deal, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasting the lack of ICE changes.
Bipartisan calls have emerged for asylum system fixes and protections for longtime migrants, amid Trump's crackdown. A 2010 clip of Obama defending deportations, even of those "just trying to earn a living," has resurfaced online, underscoring shifting Democratic rhetoric on enforcement. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., recently admitted the Biden administration "screwed up" the border but claimed ICE is now targeting non-criminals.
As the numbers stabilize at historic lows, the debate centers on sustainability without legislation. Gallego's plan and similar proposals highlight ongoing efforts to blend enforcement with humanitarian measures. With no new reform on the horizon, officials from both parties continue to monitor crossings, while communities along the border, like those in Arizona and Texas, report mixed impacts from reduced flows.
Looking ahead, the 2025 data could influence midterm strategies and the 2028 presidential race, forcing Democrats to reconcile past promises with current realities. Border Patrol stations, such as the one in Eagle Pass, Texas, where Mayorkas held a press conference in January 2024, remain focal points for policy implementation. For now, the enforcement posture stands as a testament to what can be achieved without congressional action, even as calls for comprehensive reform echo from Capitol Hill.