Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,
Crime rates continued to decline in the year 2025, with the homicide rate expected to reach a historic low of about 4.0 per 100,000 residents. This represents the lowest rate recorded in law enforcement or public health data dating back to 1900, as stated in a recent report released by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) on Jan. 22.
The CCJ reported a 21 percent decrease in homicides compared to 2024 and a 44 percent drop from the peak in 2021, based on an analysis of crime trends in 40 major American cities. This significant decline in criminal activity numbers is expected to be the largest single-year percentage drop in the homicide rate on record. The full data for 2025 will be released by the FBI later this year.
“This monumental turnaround is a direct result of President Trump’s unwavering commitment to Make America Safe Again,” stated the White House in a press release, attributing the success to border security measures, a comprehensive government strategy, and restoring order on American streets.
The decline in homicide rates has been consistent over the years, with 2021 marking the highest average homicide rate at 18.6 per 100,000. In contrast, the rate for 2025 stands at 10.4, which is 44 percent lower than the peak in 2021.
According to the CCJ report, eleven out of the thirteen offenses analyzed showed a decrease in 2025 compared to the previous year, with nine offenses experiencing a decline of 10 percent or more. While drug crimes saw a 7 percent increase, sexual assaults remained stable.
Carjacking and shoplifting, which surged during the pandemic, have significantly decreased. Reported carjacking incidents have dropped by 61 percent since 2023, while shoplifting has decreased by 10 percent since 2024.
“This success is a result of mobilizing federal law enforcement to apprehend violent criminals and dangerous illegal aliens,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a social media post. “Promise Made. Promise Kept.”
Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the administration has implemented stringent law enforcement measures nationwide, including the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrant criminals, intensified efforts against gangs and transnational cartels, disruption of drug trafficking, and securing the southern border.
Customs and Border Protection reported zero parole releases along the southwest border in December 2025, marking the eighth consecutive month of no releases, compared to 7,041 releases in December 2024 under the previous administration.
Crime Trends in U.S. Cities
Data from 35 U.S. cities indicate a 21 percent decrease in the homicide rate in 2025, with 31 cities reporting declines. Denver, Omaha, and Washington saw approximately 40 percent reductions in their homicide rates.
However, Little Rock, Fort Worth, and Milwaukee experienced increases in their homicide rates, with Little Rock rising by 16 percent, Fort Worth by 2 percent, and Milwaukee by 1 percent.
“The overall decrease in crime, particularly in homicides, is positive news,” stated CCJ senior research specialist Ernesto Lopez, the lead author of the report, highlighting a trend of declining homicide rates since the late 2000s.
CCJ President and CEO Adam Gelb acknowledged the complexity of determining the factors driving the crime rate drop, citing changes in criminal justice policies, advancements in crime-fighting technologies, and shifts in social, economic, and cultural landscapes.
CCJ is a nonpartisan think tank headquartered in Washington.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem commended the administration’s law enforcement efforts in a social media post on X on Jan. 20.
“Since President Trump’s return to office, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. due to the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including around 2.2 million self-deportations and over 675,000 deportations,” Noem noted.
“In the past year, fentanyl trafficking at the southern border has decreased by more than half compared to 2024. The U.S. Coast Guard alone seized enough cocaine to eliminate more than 177 million Americans.”
Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested approximately 7,000 gang members in 2025.
FBI Director Kash Patel shared in a social media post on Jan. 19 that there has been a 20 percent reduction in the national murder rate, with approximately 1,800 gangs and criminal enterprises disrupted in the country.
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