International Boundaries Statistics in US 2025 | Facts

International Boundaries in the US 2025

The United States maintains extensive international boundaries spanning thousands of miles across land and maritime territories. These borders serve as critical infrastructure for national security, international trade, and diplomatic relations. The nation shares its longest land border with Canada to the north and a significant southern boundary with Mexico, creating a complex network of ports of entry, enforcement zones, and crossing points that facilitate billions of dollars in commerce while maintaining security protocols.

Understanding the scope and scale of America’s international boundaries requires examining multiple dimensions—from physical measurements and geographical features to enforcement statistics and crossing data. The 2025 landscape reflects ongoing developments in border infrastructure, security measures, and cross-border activity patterns. Federal agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of State, and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) maintain comprehensive data that reveals the dynamic nature of these international frontiers.

Key Stats & Facts About International Boundaries in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Enforcement Statistics FY2025, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Border Crossing Data 2024-2025, CBP May 2025 Monthly Update

Analysis of International Boundary Statistics in the US 2025

The data reveals the massive scale of America’s international boundaries, with the US-Canada border stretching an impressive 5,525 miles to become the world’s longest international frontier. This northern boundary encompasses not just land crossings but also includes water boundaries through the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coastal regions. The geographical complexity of this border requires sophisticated management systems, with 13 US states sharing direct boundaries with Canadian provinces, creating numerous crossing points for trade, travel, and cultural exchange.

The US-Mexico border, while significantly shorter at 1,954 miles, represents one of the most actively monitored and crossed international boundaries globally. Spanning four US states—California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas—this southern frontier handles substantial volumes of both legitimate commerce and unauthorized crossing attempts. The May 2025 data shows 8,725 encounters along the southwest border between ports of entry, representing a 93% decrease from May 2024 figures. This dramatic reduction reflects enhanced enforcement measures and infrastructure investments. Meanwhile, the network of over 300 official land ports of entry across both borders processed $276 billion worth of imports in May 2025 alone, demonstrating the critical economic role these international boundaries play in America’s prosperity and global trade relationships.

Land Border Dimensions and Geography in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau Geographic Data, CBP Border Statistics 2025, GeoPlatform.gov International Boundaries Dataset Version 11.4

Geographic Distribution of International Boundaries in the US 2025

The US-Canada border stands as the world’s longest international boundary at 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), with the northern tier of states sharing 3,987 miles of contiguous mainland border. Alaska contributes an additional 1,538 miles of frontier with Canadian territories, making it the state with the most extensive international boundary. The geographic diversity along this northern frontier ranges from maritime crossings in the Great Lakes region to mountain passes in the Rocky Mountains and coastal zones along both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Michigan, with its unique peninsular geography, ranks as the state with the third longest border due to extensive water boundaries through the Great Lakes system.

The US-Mexico border, officially measured at 1,954 miles along the continental divide, presents different geographical challenges. Texas dominates with 1,241 miles of international boundary, representing over 63% of the entire southern frontier. This extensive Texas border follows the Rio Grande River for much of its length, creating natural boundary markers but also presenting unique enforcement and infrastructure challenges. Arizona follows with 373 miles of border primarily through the Sonoran Desert, while California maintains 140 miles along the Pacific coast to the Colorado River. New Mexico has the shortest stretch at 180 miles, but this segment includes critical crossing points for both commerce and migration. The southern border’s geographic features—ranging from coastal zones and desert terrain to river systems and mountain ranges—require diverse enforcement strategies and infrastructure solutions tailored to each region’s unique characteristics.

Border Enforcement and Security Statistics in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Enforcement Statistics Fiscal Year 2024-2025

Border Security Trends and Enforcement Patterns in the US 2025

The 2025 enforcement statistics demonstrate significant shifts in border security operations along US international boundaries. Total CBP enforcement encounters declined dramatically from 2,901,142 in FY 2024 to 639,826 through July 2025, representing a 78% reduction across all border sectors. This substantial decrease reflects both enhanced enforcement capabilities and policy changes implemented in early 2025. The US Border Patrol, responsible for areas between official ports of entry, recorded 235,916 encounters through July 2025 compared to 1,577,319 for the entire previous fiscal year—an 85% decline that marks historic lows in unauthorized crossing attempts along the southwest border.

Specialized enforcement targeting criminal noncitizens also shows noteworthy trends. The Office of Field Operations encountered 11,152 criminal noncitizens at ports of entry through July 2025, while the Border Patrol identified 6,374 criminal noncitizens between crossing points, both representing significant decreases from 2024 levels. Gang-affiliated apprehensions totaled 374 individuals in the first ten months of FY 2025, with MS-13 gang members accounting for 51 encounters and the emerging Tren de Aragua gang showing 44 encounters—a 63% increase from the previous year. The 2,003 rescue operations conducted by Border Patrol agents along the southwest border through July 2025 underscore the humanitarian challenges inherent in border enforcement, even as overall encounter numbers reach record lows. These statistics collectively paint a picture of international boundaries under increasingly sophisticated monitoring and enforcement regimes.

Border Crossing and Trade Activity in the US 2025

Data Source: CBP May 2025 Monthly Update, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Border Crossing Data

Trade and Commerce Through International Boundaries in the US 2025

The economic significance of US international boundaries becomes evident through May 2025 trade statistics, with CBP processing over 2.8 million entry summaries valued at $276 billion in a single month. This massive volume of commerce flows through the nation’s network of land, sea, and air ports of entry, with ocean-borne trade accounting for 38% of total import value, followed by air cargo, truck shipments, and rail freight. The customs duty collection system identified $26.6 billion in estimated duties for May alone, demonstrating the substantial revenue generation capacity of international trade infrastructure. The tariff implementation program launched in January 2025 has proven remarkably effective, with $46.9 billion collected specifically from 22 new presidential tariff actions between January 20 and May 30, contributing to total collections of $80.4 billion during this period.

Beyond legitimate commerce, CBP’s enforcement role extends to protecting American consumers and economic interests. In May 2025, officers seized 2,973 shipments containing over 3.2 million counterfeit goods that would have been valued at $317 million if genuine, protecting intellectual property rights and consumer safety. The agency conducted 67 compliance audits identifying $139 million in additional duties owed from improperly declared imports, collecting over $29 million in back payments. Narcotics interdiction remains a critical function, with 718 pounds of fentanyl seized in May 2025 alone, alongside increases in cocaine and heroin seizures. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics maintains detailed records of border crossings covering trucks, trains, containers, buses, personal vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians, providing comprehensive visibility into cross-border movements. These statistics reveal that US international boundaries function not merely as dividing lines but as actively managed gateways facilitating approximately $3.3 trillion in annual trade while simultaneously protecting national security and economic sovereignty.

Border Infrastructure and Physical Barriers in the US 2025

Data Source: CBP Border Wall System FAQ 2025, DHS Infrastructure Reports

Border Barrier Systems and Infrastructure Development in the US 2025

The physical infrastructure along US international boundaries represents one of the most extensive border management systems globally. Along the 1,954-mile southwest border, CBP has deployed multiple barrier types designed to provide “persistent impedance and denial to illegal cross-border activity.” The primary infrastructure consists of 18-30 foot steel bollard walls featuring anti-climb toppings, representing modern border engineering designed to deter unauthorized crossings while allowing visibility for patrol agents. These hardened steel structures differ significantly from legacy pedestrian fencing installed in previous decades, which includes chain link, picket, and mesh fencing that remains in place along certain border segments.

Supplementing the permanent barrier systems, CBP works with the Department of Defense and Texas National Guard to deploy temporary barriers including concertina wire, razor wire, chain link fencing, and Normandy-style vehicle barriers at strategic locations. As of 2025, over 85 miles of new border wall and waterborne barriers funded through prior year appropriations remain in various stages of planning and construction across five Border Patrol sectors: San Diego, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, and Rio Grande Valley. These projects utilize funding from Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, as no new border wall funding has been appropriated since FY 2021. The comprehensive border wall system extends beyond physical barriers to include all-weather roads enabling rapid agent response, high-intensity lighting for nighttime operations, and advanced detection technology including enforcement cameras and sensors. This integrated approach transforms the border into a layered security zone where the physical barrier, supported by technology and access infrastructure, creates what officials describe as operational control. The over 300 land ports of entry along both the northern and southern borders complement this security infrastructure, providing controlled points for legitimate travel and commerce while concentrating resources for inspection and enforcement activities.

Border Patrol Operations and Drug Interdiction in the US 2025

Data Source: CBP Enforcement Statistics FY 2025, CBP Drug Seizure Statistics, Border Patrol Checkpoint Reports

Narcotics Interdiction and Enforcement Operations in the US 2025

Drug interdiction along US international boundaries reveals the sophisticated challenge of preventing illicit narcotics from entering American communities. Through July 2025, Border Patrol checkpoint operations seized 8,908 pounds of marijuana, 2,042 pounds of cocaine, 2,850 pounds of methamphetamine, and 543 pounds of fentanyl. The marijuana seizures peaked dramatically in May 2025 at 3,262 pounds, representing over 36% of the fiscal year’s total in a single month. Methamphetamine showed consistent seizure volumes with a notable spike of 808 pounds in April 2025, while fentanyl—the synthetic opioid driving America’s overdose crisis—was interdicted in quantities ranging from 5 to 173 pounds monthly, with the largest confiscation occurring in June 2025. These checkpoint seizure statistics supplement the larger interdiction efforts at official ports of entry, where in May 2025 alone, CBP confiscated 718 pounds of fentanyl alongside increases in cocaine and heroin seizures.

The broader enforcement mission extends beyond narcotics to encompass multiple criminal categories. NCIC arrests (individuals wanted by other law enforcement agencies) totaled 9,670 at ports of entry through July 2025, while Border Patrol apprehended 458 individuals with outstanding warrants between official crossing points. Currency seizures at Border Patrol checkpoints reached $620,751 for the fiscal year, with significant variations from $800 in May to $214,444 in both March and June 2025, suggesting disruption of money-smuggling operations. Agricultural protection represents another critical enforcement dimension, with CBP agriculture specialists issuing 7,806 emergency action notifications in May 2025 for restricted and prohibited plant and animal products, alongside 765 civil penalties to travelers failing to declare prohibited agricultural items. These multifaceted operations demonstrate that international boundaries serve as comprehensive enforcement zones addressing drug trafficking, wanted fugitives, financial crimes, and agricultural biosecurity—all while facilitating $276 billion in monthly legitimate commerce.

Terrorism Screening and National Security in the US 2025

Data Source: CBP Terrorism-Related Encounter Statistics FY 2024-2025, UFLPA Enforcement Data

National Security Operations at International Boundaries in the US 2025

Terrorism screening at US international boundaries represents a critical national security function, with CBP agents and officers utilizing the Terrorist Screening Dataset to identify individuals with terrorism-related records. In a dramatic increase, the Office of Field Operations recorded 2,216 terrorism-related encounters at land ports of entry through July 2025, compared to 410 for all of FY 2024. The southwest border accounted for 1,957 of these encounters—a staggering rise from just 52 the previous fiscal year, though officials note that individuals matching terrorism databases at ports of entry are typically found inadmissible and immediately repatriated or turned over to other agencies. The northern border recorded 259 terrorism-related encounters at official crossing points, continuing the trend of heightened vigilance along the 5,525-mile US-Canada boundary.

US Border Patrol encounters with individuals on terrorism watchlists between official ports of entry totaled 52 through July 2025, all occurring along the southwest border. While these numbers remain extraordinarily small—representing 0.0220% of total Border Patrol encounters—they underscore the importance of comprehensive screening across the entire border zone. When Border Patrol agents encounter individuals matching terrorism-related records, those persons are detained and either removed or transferred to appropriate federal agencies for further investigation and potential prosecution. Beyond terrorism concerns, international boundaries serve as enforcement points for combating forced labor in supply chains, with CBP stopping 132 shipments valued at over $4.5 million in May 2025 alone based on suspected use of forced labor under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. These specialized enforcement actions, combined with the screening of millions of travelers and countless cargo shipments, demonstrate how US international boundaries function as multidimensional security perimeters protecting against threats ranging from terrorism to human rights violations in global commerce.

Border Recidivism and Repeat Crossing Patterns in the US 2025

Data Source: CBP Recidivism Statistics, Border Patrol Operational Data

Understanding Repeat Border Crossing Attempts in the US 2025

Recidivism rates along US international boundaries measure the percentage of individuals apprehended more than once by Border Patrol within a single fiscal year, providing insight into the effectiveness of consequences for unauthorized entry. Historical data shows significant fluctuations, with rates declining from 14% in FY 2015 to a low of 7% in FY 2019, when policies including the Remain in Mexico program created substantial barriers to repeat crossing attempts. The implementation of Title 42 expulsions in March 2020—using public health authority to rapidly return individuals without standard immigration proceedings—correlated with a sharp increase in recidivism to 26% in FY 2020 and 27% in FY 2021, as the lack of legal consequences enabled some individuals to make multiple crossing attempts.

The 2025 enforcement landscape reflects yet another policy evolution, with administration officials emphasizing that Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into the interior in May 2025, down from over 62,000 releases in May 2024. This “catch and remove” rather than “catch and release” approach aims to reduce recidivism by ensuring consequences for unauthorized entry. The 235,916 Border Patrol encounters recorded through July 2025 represent an 85% decrease from FY 2024 levels, with daily apprehensions averaging approximately 264 per day in March 2025—described as the lowest in CBP history. While official recidivism data for FY 2025 awaits year-end calculation, the combination of minimal interior releases, expedited removal processes, and sustained enforcement presence suggests authorities are attempting to achieve pre-2020 recidivism rates. These patterns demonstrate how policy choices regarding consequences for unauthorized crossing directly influence repeat attempt rates along US international boundaries, with implications for resource allocation, humanitarian considerations, and overall border management effectiveness.

The trajectory of US international boundaries management points toward increasing technological integration and infrastructure sophistication. The 85+ miles of border wall projects in various planning and construction stages represent ongoing physical infrastructure development, while the integration of advanced detection systems, cameras, and sensors signals a shift toward comprehensive surveillance and rapid-response capabilities. Trade volumes are projected to continue growing, potentially exceeding $3.5 trillion annually as North American supply chains evolve and nearshoring trends bring manufacturing closer to the US market. The expansion of tariff enforcement mechanisms and the collection of over $450 million daily in tariff revenue suggests international boundaries will play an increasingly central role in economic policy and revenue generation.

National security screening will likely intensify as geopolitical tensions persist and threats evolve. The dramatic increase in terrorism-related encounters at ports of entry—from 410 in FY 2024 to 2,216 through July 2025—demonstrates the dynamic nature of security challenges along international boundaries. Simultaneously, humanitarian concerns will require balanced approaches as rescue operations, family separations, and asylum processing create complex policy dilemmas. The agricultural biosecurity mission, evidenced by 7,806 emergency notifications in a single month, will expand as climate change and global trade patterns increase the risk of invasive species and agricultural diseases. Ultimately, the 7,479-mile combined land border with Canada and Mexico will continue serving as both gateway and guardian—facilitating the legitimate movement of goods, services, and people while protecting American security, economic, and health interests through ever-more sophisticated management systems and coordinated enforcement strategies.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.