U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced on July 16 that, for the 14th straight month, it released “zero” migrants from custody pending immigration proceedings—an achievement the agency credits to the 2025 ‘Remain in Mexico 2.0’ protocols and expanded use of expedited removal. Under the policy, asylum-seekers are either returned to Mexico to await court dates or placed in rapid-turnaround proceedings within CBP’s newly built processing centers. Human-rights groups contend the practice denies legitimate refugees due process and exposes them to cartel violence, but the administration points to a 72 percent year-on-year drop in unlawful re-entries. From a mobility standpoint, the zero-release metric signals continued tight control of land-border resources. CBP has re-deployed 450 officers from trusted-traveler enrollment centers to processing duties, extending Global Entry interview backlogs to an average of 180 days. Trucking associations also report longer commercial waits at Laredo and Otay Mesa as canine teams are reassigned to asylum facilities. Companies moving personnel and goods across the southern border should anticipate periodic lane closures and factor extra clearance time into just-in-time supply chains. Shippers with C-TPAT certification may benefit from FAST lanes that remain prioritized, but only during peak freight hours. Barring litigation or policy reversal, CBP indicates the zero-release posture will continue “for the foreseeable future,” suggesting resource constraints at enrollment centers and ports of entry will persist through at least fiscal 2027.
Source: DHS / CBP press release
