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Immigration & BorderBreaking

CBP reports about 98,700 southwest border apprehensions in fiscal 2026

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 7 outlets, mostly right-leaning (86%).

8 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Border agents and white patrol SUV by border fence at sunset, American flag waving overhead.
Image via The Washington TimesHow images are chosenReport this image

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said its preliminary fiscal 2026 data show about 98,700 apprehensions at the southwest border, a drop of 95 percent from the Biden-era average of 1.8 million a year. The agency said the year also had zero Border Patrol releases and that it finished 250 miles of new barrier. The Financial Times reports the total is near a 60-year low. The Center Square estimated September nationwide encounters near 30,000, noting CBP had not published September figures.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said preliminary fiscal 2026 data show about 98,700 southwest border apprehensions.

    Reported byCenter1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    Financial Times
    Far Right
    Breitbart News, The Epoch Times

  2. The agency said apprehensions fell about 95 percent from the Biden-era average of 1.8 million a year.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right5See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    The Center Square
    Far Right
    One America News, RedState, Breitbart News, Just the News, The Epoch Times

  3. The agency said the year had zero Border Patrol releases, the first fiscal year with none, and 17 straight months with none.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    The Washington Times, The Center Square
    Far Right
    RedState, Just the News, The Epoch Times

  4. The total is described as near a 60-year low, down from peaks above two million under Biden.

    One outletFinancial Times· Center

  5. September data were not published with the preliminary figures; one estimate puts September nationwide encounters near 30,000.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    The Center Square
    Far Right
    Just the News

  6. The agency said it has finished 250 miles of new barrier along the southwest border.

    One outletThe Epoch Times· Far Right

How each side tells it

Compare views

Both sides report that southwest border apprehensions fell to about 98,700 in fiscal 2026 according to preliminary agency data. Right-side outlets stress the 95 percent drop from the Biden-era average and zero Border Patrol releases, while the one center outlet puts the total near a 60-year low.

  • the left

    No coverage yet

    No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The one center-side headline states the figure and places it against a 60-year low and Biden-era peaks above two million, without the agency's zero-release or barrier claims.

    US illegal border crossings from Mexico near 60-year low
    Financial TimesCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    6 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right-side headlines lead with the record low or the 95 percent drop, often as superlatives; some Far Right headlines add credit to Trump and Biden-era comparisons, while one Right-rated headline states the figures plainly.

    Absolutist framing“PROMISE KEPT”The headline presents the administration's claim of a fulfilled promise as settled fact rather than as a claim.More neutral: Trump Touts Lowest Border ApprehensionsDisagree with this highlight?: Trump Delivers Absolutist framing“Most Secure Border in History”The phrase asserts a superlative about border security as settled, though the article reports only apprehension figures.More neutral: Lowest Recorded Border Apprehensions Since 2024Disagree with this highlight? - 96 Percent Drop from Biden's Crisis Peak
    Breitbart NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left

    Has not covered this story.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right5

    catch-and-releaseastoundingBiden Border CrisisPROMISE KEPT

In the outlets’ own words

  • Partisan shorthand

    catch-and-releaseMore neutral: noncitizens convicted of crimes or crimes by (give data)

    Links immigration status and crime in the label; give the data.

    …only a trickle of illegal immigrants detected -- and not a single one given a catch-and-release.

    Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

  • Sensational language

    astoundingMore neutral: 95 percent drop

    The adjective adds the outlet's judgement of surprise to a figure that can be stated without it.

    …that its preliminary Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 data show that there has been an astounding 95 percent drop in border apprehensions and the lowest annual number of border…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Partisan shorthand

    Biden Border CrisisMore neutral: the surge in border crossings under Biden

    The term is a label coined by one side of the debate that contains its conclusion about the prior administration's border policy.

    …a 95 percent drop from the average of 1.8 million migrants per year during the Biden Border Crisis.

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    PROMISE KEPTMore neutral: Trump Touts Lowest Border Apprehensions

    The headline presents the administration's claim of a fulfilled promise as settled fact rather than as a claim.

    PROMISE KEPT: Trump Delivers Most Secure Border in History - 96 Percent Drop from Biden's Crisis…

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

Show 1 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Absolutist framing

    Most Secure Border in HistoryMore neutral: Lowest Recorded Border Apprehensions Since 2024

    The phrase asserts a superlative about border security as settled, though the article reports only apprehension figures.

    PROMISE KEPT: Trump Delivers Most Secure Border in History - 96 Percent Drop from Biden's Crisis Peak

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

0 outlets

No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • historical low over 60 years
  • comparison with Biden-era peaks
  • the apprehension total

Leaves out

  • the administration's zero-release claim
  • 250 miles of barrier construction

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

6 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • record-low apprehensions
  • 95 percent drop from the Biden era
  • zero Border Patrol releases
  • border barrier construction
See the 7 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    Border Officials Record 1st Fiscal Year With No Illegal Immigrant Releases

    Homeland Security also finished constructing 250 miles of new barrier along the southwest border.

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • The Center SquareRight

    Southwest illegal border crossing reach lowest level for one year in U.S. history

    (The Center Square) – Illegal border crossings at the southwest border reached their lowest level in U.S. history over the past fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection preliminary fiscal 2026 data.

    Read at The Center Square (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by Just the News. It counts once.

  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    Absolutist framing“PROMISE KEPT”The headline presents the administration's claim of a fulfilled promise as settled fact rather than as a claim.More neutral: Trump Touts Lowest Border ApprehensionsDisagree with this highlight?: Trump Delivers Absolutist framing“Most Secure Border in History”The phrase asserts a superlative about border security as settled, though the article reports only apprehension figures.More neutral: Lowest Recorded Border Apprehensions Since 2024Disagree with this highlight? - 96 Percent Drop from Biden's Crisis Peak

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday a historic report revealing the lowest number of migrant arrests along the southwest border in agency history. …

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • One America NewsFar Right

    DHS announces lowest fiscal-year border crossings in U.S. history, 95% drop in apprehensions since Biden admin.

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have announced a 95% drop in southwest border apprehensions compared to the previous administration of former President Joe Biden, according to preliminary Fiscal Year 2026 data.

    Read at One America News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Washington TimesRight

    DHS records best year ever at southern border; zero Partisan shorthand“catch-and-release”Links immigration status and crime in the label; give the data.More neutral: noncitizens convicted of crimes, crimes by (give data), release pending a hearingDisagree with this highlight? cases

    The Department of Homeland Security closed out fiscal year 2026 with its best numbers ever at the southwestern border, with only a trickle of illegal immigrants detected -- and not a single one given a Partisan shorthand“catch-and-release”Links immigration status and crime in the label; give the data.More neutral: noncitizens convicted of crimes, crimes by (give data), release pending a hearingDisagree with this highlight?.

    Read at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar RightOpinion

    Yes, I Voted for This: DHS Announces Lowest Fiscal Year Border Crossings in US History

    On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), announced that its preliminary Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 data show that there has been an Sensational language“astounding”The adjective adds the outlet's judgement of surprise to a figure that can be stated without it.More neutral: 95 percent dropDisagree with this highlight? 95 percent drop in border apprehensions and the lowest annual number of …

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar RightCenter Square report

    Southwest illegal border crossing reach lowest level for one year in U.S. history

    Just the News published a report that is shown in full at The Center Square.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Center

    4 hr 46 min later

    Its first report, Oct 16, 2:30 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    The Washington Times, Oct 16, 9:45 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Washington TimesRightOct 16, 9:45 AM EDT
  2. One America NewsFar RightOct 16, 12:26 PM EDT
  3. Financial TimesCenterOct 16, 2:30 PM EDT
  4. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 16, 5:19 PM EDT
  5. The Center SquareRightOct 18, 9:37 AM EDT
  6. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 18, 10:00 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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