Apprehensions Down 30 Percent Along Southern Border

Trend in CBP Border Patrol Apprehensions Continues Through March 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007

Washington, D.C. — Apprehensions through the end of the second quarter are down 30 percent compared to the same period during the previous fiscal year, continuing a trend in the overall decline of border apprehensions between ports of entry.

From Oct. 1 through March 31, CBP Border Patrol agents made 418,184 arrests along the nation’s southern border compared to 594,142 apprehensions during the same period last year, with all southern border sectors experiencing declines in apprehensions. The Del Rio, Texas and Yuma, Ariz., sectors experienced the greatest declines, with a decrease of 68 percent in Yuma (24,726 apprehensions) and a decrease of 57 percent in Del Rio (12,151 apprehensions).

Apprehensions of other than Mexico nationals declined 55 percent along the southern border, which totaled 25,269 through the second quarter 2007. The decrease in other-than-Mexican apprehensions reduces the time agents spend transporting and processing and increases time spent patrolling the border.