--- title: "Border apprehensions fell 95% in FY26, DHS reports" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/border-apprehensions-fell-95-in-fy26-dhs-reports" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/border-apprehensions-fell-95-in-fy26-dhs-reports" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/border-apprehensions-fell-95-in-fy26-dhs-reports.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/border-apprehensions-fell-95-in-fy26-dhs-reports" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-16T13:05:30.914Z" source_reported: "2026-10-16T12:07:50.000Z" updated: "2026-10-16T13:05:30.914Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-16T14:15:21.921014+00:00" --- # Border apprehensions fell 95% in FY26, DHS reports *Retired Border Patrol chief Chris Clem contrasts current low numbers with the 2021 surge.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust high (86) due to named DHS data and quoted retired Border Patrol chief. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic high (95) for clear facts, quotes, specific figures and future context. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Mild emphasis; vivid headlines match the body content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Department of Homeland Security reported 98,708 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026, a 95% decrease from the Biden administration's average of over 1.8 million. - This figure represents about 270 apprehensions per day, a significant drop from the estimated 5,000 per day during the prior administration's average. - September 2026 marked the 17th consecutive month without Border Patrol releasing migrants, completing a full fiscal year with zero releases, according to DHS. - Retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem warned that a shift in congressional control could jeopardise border security gains. The Department of Homeland Security reported 98,708 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026. This figure is approximately 95% below the Biden administration’s annual average of more than 1.8 million, equating to about 270 apprehensions per day nationwide. The DHS also indicated that September 2026 marked the 17th consecutive month without Border Patrol releasing migrants into the country, completing a full fiscal year with zero releases. Retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem recalled that daily arrivals in Yuma rose from about 25 in December 2020 to more than 1,000 by December 2021. During a three-day stretch that month, he stated, daily arrivals approached 1,500. Clem described the situation during the surge as critical, with migrants walking through agricultural fields, running through town, and knocking on doors at all hours. He attributed the current decline to a combination of factors including personnel, infrastructure, technology, and consequences for illegal entry. Clem also warned that a shift in congressional control could complicate enforcement through funding and policy changes. ## Disagreement on migrant releases The Department of Homeland Security indicated that September 2026 marked the 17th consecutive month without Border Patrol releasing migrants, completing a full fiscal year with zero releases. The New York Ledger reported this finding. The Beltway Report digest stated DHS reports a full fiscal year with zero migrant releases. Fox News digest reported DHS announcing lowest fiscal year border crossings in American history and mentioned the former chief's warning about new threats. U-S-NEWS.COM reported the agency also said September marked the 17th consecutive month without Border Patrol releasing migrants into the country, completing what DHS described as the agency’s first full fiscal year with zero releases. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports printed below mention the specific figure of about 270 apprehensions per day across the southwest border that the Department of Homeland Security reported. The New York Ledger, the centre-rated report, did include this figure. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 17% (1) - Right: 83% (5) 0 of 6 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-16T14:15:21.921014+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-16T14:30:24.624Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The New York Ledger led with the contrast between former President Donald Trump’s border crackdown and the situation under former President Joe Biden. It reported the Department of Homeland Security’s figures for historic lows in apprehensions and a full fiscal year without Border Patrol releasing migrants. The outlet quoted retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem recalling the surge in December 2021, when daily arrivals in Yuma climbed from about 25 to more than 1,000, with a three-day stretch reaching roughly 1,500. The report also included Clem’s warning that a political shift in Washington could jeopardise border-security gains. ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on the significant drop in border apprehensions and the completion of a fiscal year without migrant releases, attributing the turnaround to former President Donald Trump’s policies. U-S-NEWS.COM reported that retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem said the crossing collapse marks a turnaround from the Biden-era surge. The outlet quoted Clem describing the chaos of migrants walking through fields and knocking on doors. It also noted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stating, “President Trump promised the American people a secure border, and the data proves he delivered.” The reports included Clem’s warning that political uncertainty in Washington could undo progress and that mixed signals from Washington can be a tool for smugglers. Tom Homan, border czar, was quoted stating ICE recorded its highest single-day deportation total since Trump returned to office. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 4 - mixed: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The New York Ledger](https://thenyledger.com/politics/former-border-patrol-chief-recalls-biden-migrant-surge-chaos-as-trump-crackdown-delivers-historic-turnaround) — Former Border Patrol chief recalls Biden migrant surge chaos as Trump crackdown delivers historic turnaround - [U-S-NEWS.COM](https://u-s-news.com/politics-former-yuma-border-chief-says-crossing-collapse-marks-turnaround-from-biden-era-surge-the-beltway-report) — POLITICS: Former Yuma Border Chief Says Crossing Collapse Marks Turnaround From Biden-Era Surge – The Beltway Report - [khbrknews](https://khbrknews.com/former-border-patrol-chief-recalls-biden-migrant-surge-chaos-as-trump-crackdown-delivers-historic-turnaround) — Former Border Patrol chief recalls Biden migrant surge chaos as Trump crackdown delivers historic turnaround - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/former-border-patrol-chief-recalls-biden-migrant-surge-chaos-as-trump-crackdown-delivers-historic-turnaround) — Former Border Patrol chief recalls Biden migrant surge chaos as Trump crackdown delivers historic turnaround - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [The Beltway Report](https://thebeltwayreport.com/2026/10/former-yuma-border-chief-says-crossing-collapse-marks-turnaround-from-biden-era-surge) — Former Yuma Border Chief Says Crossing Collapse Marks Turnaround From Biden-Era Surge - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/former-border-patrol-chief-recalls-biden-migrant-surge-chaos-trump-crackdown-delivers-historic-turnaround) — Former Border Patrol chief recalls Biden migrant surge chaos as Trump crackdown delivers historic turnaround ## Questions **How many border apprehensions were reported in fiscal year 2026?** The Department of Homeland Security reported 98,708 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal year 2026. This represents a 95% decrease compared to the Biden administration’s annual average of more than 1.8 million, equating to approximately 270 apprehensions per day. **How long has Border Patrol gone without releasing migrants?** September 2026 marked the 17th consecutive month without Border Patrol releasing migrants into the country. This means the agency completed a full fiscal year with zero releases, according to DHS figures. **What did former Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem say about the situation?** Retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem recalled daily arrivals in Yuma rising from about 25 in December 2020 to over 1,000 by December 2021. He described the current low numbers as a turnaround but warned that political shifts in Washington could jeopardise border security gains. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/border-apprehensions-fell-95-in-fy26-dhs-reports. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Border apprehensions fell 95% in FY26, DHS reports", https://mediabias.news/politics/border-apprehensions-fell-95-in-fy26-dhs-reports