More Americans than ever are signing up to help protect the southern border.
According to a Department of Homeland Security media release published on May 13, the Border Patrol received an unprecedented 34,650 applications from January to April 2025, the strongest four-month surge in recruitment the agency has ever seen.
That reports also shows a 44% increase over the same period last year, a statistic that even critics of the Trump administration would struggle to ignore.
After years of increased illegal immigration, adjacent crime, and strained resources for border patrol officials under previous presidential administrations, the surge in applicants may serve as a telling sign: American confidence and support in the mission of border security is returning quickly under Trump.
“The continued surge in applications speaks volumes about the pride and purpose Americans see in joining the U.S. Border Patrol,” said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks. “We thank President Trump and Secretary Noem for their leadership and commitment to strengthening our workforce and mission readiness.”
While the President’s border policies have drawn predictable fire from some progressive circles, it’s becoming clear that a renewed call to secure our borders is resonating among everyday Americans.
In many ways, the large increase in applications seems less about politics and more about purpose.
The increase reflects a growing national desire to bring order to a broken immigration system, something that resonates particularly in states like Texas, where border communities and southern farmers have borne the brunt of the government’s past inaction.
According to the DHS, throughout 2025, the Trump administration has pushed for more hiring incentives and streamlined application processes, particularly for military veterans and officers with prior law enforcement experience.
Outside of the incentives, the surge of new applicants to protect the border may also simply be a cultural response.
Many Americans are tired of watching the southern border spiral into lawlessness and of vague promises and policies.
Evidently, many people are no longer content to sit back and hope Washington figures it out; they’re now applying record numbers to take action themselves.
“The increase in applicants also underscores the public’s confidence in this administration’s strong enforcement priorities and the sense of purpose Americans feel in answering the call to protect the homeland,” The DHS declared.