Fact-check · Oct 15, 2026 · Donald Trump
“25,000,000 people came into our country illegally”
FALSESaid in 8 broadcasts
What the record shows
CBP recorded 10.8 million encounters nationwide FY2021–FY2024; adding ~2 million estimated gotaways yields ~12–13 million total. No official source reports 25 million.
Claim is more than double the highest authoritative figure. CBP and DHS data show 10.8M encounters plus ~2M gotaways, not 25M.
Sources
- STARTLING STATS FACTSHEET: Fiscal Year 2024 Ends With Nearly 3 Million Inadmissible Encounters, 10.8 Million Total Encounters Since FY2021
- Historic 9th Straight Month of Zero Releases at the Border
- Immigration: Apprehensions and Expulsions at the Southwest Border
- formal removal
- Breaking Down the FY 2024 Southwest Border Numbers
- STARTLING STATS FACTSHEET: Biden Administration on Track to Reach 10 Million Encounters Nationwide Before End of Fiscal Year
Every time it was said
8 times, Aug 14, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026 · 8 false
False
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