Following a brief break from the initial migrant surge, the Tucson Sector has once again become the leading area for migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico southwest border. This week, apprehensions of migrants crossing illegally between ports of entry surged to around 7,400, while the San Diego Sector saw a decrease to just over 6,000.
Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin reported in his weekly update that his agents encountered roughly 7,400 migrants who entered illegally between ports of entry last week.
This week’s apprehensions have increased from the 6,700 migrants apprehended the previous week. Additionally, they have risen significantly compared to the 4,300 arrested during the same week last year.
Weekly Update, 5/15/24 – 5/21/24
-6,157 Apprehensions from 67 countries
-122 Unaccompanied Minors Encountered
-20 Rescues
-41 Human Smuggling Events Interdicted
SEIZED:
-42 lbs Fentanyl
-47 lbs Cocaine
-238 lbs Methamphetamine
-11 lbs Heroin
-2 Firearms
-23 Smuggling Conveyances pic.twitter.com/NJhulqb67g— Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel (@USBPChiefSDC) May 22, 2024
Weekly Update, 5/8/24 – 5/14/24
-8,016 Apprehensions from 68 countries
-128 Unaccompanied Minors Encountered
-27 Rescues
-25 Human Smuggling Events InterdictedSEIZED:
-94 lbs. Fentanyl
-23 lbs. Cocaine
-27 lbs. Methamphetamine
-$57,834 Currency
-18 Smuggling Conveyances pic.twitter.com/0oK2UlouSo— Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel (@USBPChiefSDC) May 15, 2024
This rise comes as Border Patrol officials are noticing a significant decline in migrant apprehensions across the entire southwest border. CBS News reports that migrant apprehensions fell by 54 percent in the first 21 days of May to an average of 3,770 per day. If this trend continues, the total number of migrants apprehended in May could drop to approximately 116,000, marking the lowest monthly total since February 2021, President Joe Biden’s first full month in office.
