DHS says FY 2026 border apprehensions fell 95% and Border Patrol had zero releases

On October 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced preliminary data for Fiscal Year 2026. They said southwest border apprehensions fell by 95% compared with the Biden administration.

DHS and CBP also reported that FY 2026 included the lowest annual “encounters” in CBP’s history, with nationwide encounters totaling 379,243. They contrasted this with what they described as much higher figures under the Biden administration.

A key claim in the announcement is that FY 2026 was the first fiscal year in which Border Patrol had “zero releases.” DHS said this followed a pattern of “zero releases” for 17 consecutive months, including September.

The release credits these changes to what it calls stronger border infrastructure, disruption of cartel activity, and enforcement actions. It also says border-related deaths declined, citing preliminary figures for deaths identified by Border Patrol.

This is a press release with preliminary statistics, so the final numbers may change. For the most accurate and complete context, readers may want to review the official DHS/CBP release directly.