Falsely claims 'zero illegal aliens' entered U.S. for seven months despite CBP data showing continued crossings

In his national address, Trump declared: 'For the past seven months, zero illegal aliens have been allowed into our country, a feat which everyone said was absolutely impossible.' Newsweek's fact-check rated this claim as false. While border apprehensions dropped by 96% compared to late 2022 according to internal DHS reports, they have not reached zero. The White House has claimed that 'for seven straight months, zero illegal aliens have been released into the country's interior'—a different claim than zero entering the country entirely. Trump appears to be conflating the decrease in interior releases with total border entries. CBP data shows crossings have decreased dramatically but continue to occur. The false claim represents Trump's pattern of exaggerating immigration enforcement success to claim 'impossible' achievements.

"For the past seven months, zero illegal aliens have been allowed into our country, a feat which everyone said was absolutely impossible." — National address from White House Diplomatic Reception Room, December 17, 2025