DHS reports ninth consecutive month of no Border Patrol releases and historic low January border encounters

• Tech ErrorDHS says January 2026 encounters and apprehensions were at historic lows and fell for the fourth month
• TrueDHS reports 34,631 nationwide encounters in January 2026, stating this is 87% below prior administration monthly average
• TrueDHS reports 6,073 Southwest border apprehensions in January 2026, calling it a fourth month of decline and 93% below long-term average
• TrueDHS reports January 2026 drug seizures including 816 lbs fentanyl and 12,241 lbs methamphetamine

Key takeaways

• DHS announced preliminary January 2026 figures showing 34,631 total nationwide encounters—reported as the lowest January on record.
• U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the Southwest border in January were reported at 6,073, a four-month consecutive decline and 93% lower than the FY1992–FY2024 monthly average.
• DHS reported nine straight months in which Border Patrol released zero apprehended noncitizens into the U.S. interior.
• January daily average apprehensions on the Southwest border were reported as 196 per day (about eight per hour), cited as 96% lower than the prior administration's daily average.
• DHS reported record drug seizures in January, including 816 pounds of fentanyl and 12,241 pounds of methamphetamine.
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott attributed the results to administration policies; DHS described the data as preliminary and said final numbers will be released in the coming weeks.

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