Border Patrol Sees Significant Drop in Migrant Apprehensions in Tucson Sector During Election Period

As the presidential election approaches, the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol has seen a noticeable drop in migrant apprehensions, the lowest level of the current fiscal year. Only 2,900 migrants were apprehension in the past week, a significant drop from previous months, according to Tucson Sector Patrol Chief John Modlin.

Modlin drew attention to the trend on social media, where he shared a graphic illustrating the decline in the weekly number of arrests.

The latest data represents a stark contrast to previous peaks in migrant apprehensions, such as in December, when agents encountered more than 19,000 migrants in a single week. Throughout the year, the San Diego and Tucson sectors have alternated among the top apprehensions as migrant crossings have shifted west from Texas.

Border Patrol Sees Significant Drop in Migrant Apprehensions in Tucson Sector During Election Period

Despite the recent decline, the Tucson sector remains one of the Border Patrol’s busiest sectors, with agents apprehending nearly 281,000 migrants this year. This westward shift in migrant crossing patterns has dropped the Del Rio sector to fourth place from its status as the busiest sector last year.

Border Patrol agents along the Southwest Border have encountered nearly 1.4 million migrants illegally crossing between ports of entry this year. That’s a small decline from record numbers in previous years but still poses a significant challenge to border enforcement.

In response to these challenges, the Biden administration has implemented a variety of border policies, including actions that have led to a reduction in apprehensions in recent months. Despite these efforts, issues such as the use of parole and the significant number of “escapes” remain key factors in understanding the full scope of migration patterns and challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border.