During Tuesday night 's State of the Union address , President Barack Obama touted his administration 's efforts on reducing illegal immigration . The claim : . `` Real reform means stronger border security , and we can build on the progress my administration has already made -- putting more boots on the southern border than at any time in our history , and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years . '' That 's a big claim , so CNN decided to take a closer look . The facts : . In fiscal year 2011 , there were 18,506 U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Southwest Border Sectors -- up steadily from 3,555 agents in 1992 , according to Customs and Border Protection figures . A Pew Research Hispanic Center study finds that Border Patrol apprehensions of all unauthorized immigrants are at their lowest level since 1971 . `` In spite of ( and perhaps because of ) increases in the number of U.S. Border Patrol agents , apprehensions of Mexicans trying to cross the border illegally have plummeted in recent years—from more than 1 million in 2005 to 286,000 in 2011—a likely indication that fewer unauthorized migrants are trying to cross , '' it concluded . More fact checks : Obamacare | Gas mileage | Wind energy . Pew estimates that net migration -- newly arrived immigrants minus those leaving ( forced or voluntarily ) -- has come to a standstill , which it attributes to the weakened U.S. job and construction markets , border enforcement , an increase in deportations , and increased dangers associated with crossing the border . In all , there were 327,577 illegal immigrant apprehensions in 2011 , according to the U.S. Border Patrol . This is the lowest number since 1972 , when there were 321,326 . According to the Department of Homeland Security , the 2011 figure is a 53 % drop from 2008 , which it says indicates that fewer people are trying to cross the border . The figures can be tough to interpret . Often , the same person is caught more than once , `` and then the flip side of that phenomenon is there 's no way of knowing how many you missed counting , how many do get through , '' said Dan Kowalski , editor of Bender 's Immigration Bulletin and an immigration lawyer at the Fowler Law Firm in Austin , Texas . `` So , you get what you measure . In other words , you count what you count . '' But even if the border could be sealed in a foolproof manner , the issue of illegal immigration would not be resolved . That 's because many of those people who are in the United States without authorization have entered the country legally on a visa and simply overstayed their visa status , Kowalski said . Conclusion : . Obama 's comments appear to accurately summarize the current state of illegal immigration , though it 's impossible to determine with certainty how many illegal crossings may have occurred .
In fiscal year 2011 , there were 18,506 U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Southwest Border Sectors . Study : Apprehensions of unauthorized immigrants are at their lowest level since 1971 . The figures can be tough to interpret .