While Border Patrol apprehensions fluctuate dramatically year to year, the sheer scale of recent activity—with agents encountering over 1.6 million individuals in just one sector in 2023—paints a vivid picture of the ongoing challenges at the Southwest border.
Key Takeaways
- In Fiscal Year 2023, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,667,849 individuals under Title 8 authorities along the Southwest border
- In Fiscal Year 2022, total U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions nationwide reached 2,378,944 including Title 42 expulsions
- Fiscal Year 2021 saw 1,734,686 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border
- Tucson Sector, Arizona, reported 250,651 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2023
- Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas, had 141,760 apprehensions in FY 2023
- Del Rio Sector, Texas, recorded 64,562 Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
- In FY 2023, Mexicans constituted 37% of all U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border, totaling approximately 621,000 individuals
- FY 2023 saw 451,513 apprehensions of migrants from Guatemala, representing 27% of total Border Patrol apprehensions
- Hondurans accounted for 17% or about 283,534 of Southwest border apprehensions in FY 2023 by U.S. Border Patrol
- In FY 2023, 75% of apprehended unaccompanied children by Border Patrol were male, totaling 38,000 males out of 50,667
- FY 2023 female family unit apprehensions: 42% or 192,000 out of 456,000 total family units
- Average age of single adults apprehended by Border Patrol in FY 2023 was 32 years, with 65% aged 18-39
- In January 2024, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 8,347 nationwide
- December 2023 monthly apprehensions by Border Patrol: 42,340
- November 2023 Southwest border apprehensions: 44,720
Border Patrol apprehensions remain high but have fluctuated significantly over recent years.
Age and Gender Demographics
- In FY 2023, 75% of apprehended unaccompanied children by Border Patrol were male, totaling 38,000 males out of 50,667
- FY 2023 female family unit apprehensions: 42% or 192,000 out of 456,000 total family units
- Average age of single adults apprehended by Border Patrol in FY 2023 was 32 years, with 65% aged 18-39
- In FY 2023, 52% of all Southwest border apprehensions were adult males, approximately 868,000 individuals
- Unaccompanied minors under 12 years old comprised 28% of UAC apprehensions in FY 2023, totaling 14,187
- FY 2022 Border Patrol apprehensions showed 78% males among single adults, about 1,450,000 males
- Family unit females in FY 2022: 48% or 480,000 out of 1 million
- FY 2022 average age for apprehended family units: 29 years, with 40% under 18
- Adult females single: 22% of single adult apprehensions in FY 2022, totaling 410,000
- UAC males aged 12-17 in FY 2022: 55% or 45,000 out of 82,000 total UAC
- FY 2021 saw 70% male single adults apprehended, 1,210,000 individuals by Border Patrol
- Family unit children under 5: 35% of FY 2021 family apprehensions, about 280,000
- Average age of UAC in FY 2021: 14.5 years
- FY 2021 female UAC: 48% totaling 83,000
- Single adult females FY 2021: 25% or 433,000 apprehensions
Age and Gender Demographics Interpretation
While the statistics paint a picture of a primarily young, adult male migrant flow, the significant presence of women and very young children reveals a deeper, more desperate narrative of families fleeing together and children arriving alone.
Annual National Totals
- In Fiscal Year 2023, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,667,849 individuals under Title 8 authorities along the Southwest border
- In Fiscal Year 2022, total U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions nationwide reached 2,378,944 including Title 42 expulsions
- Fiscal Year 2021 saw 1,734,686 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border
- In FY 2020, Border Patrol apprehensions dropped to 405,036 due to COVID-19 restrictions
- FY 2019 recorded 859,501 Southwest border apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol
- Fiscal Year 2018 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 521,090 nationwide
- In FY 2017, there were 526,901 Border Patrol apprehensions along the Southwest border
- FY 2016 apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol reached 408,870
- Fiscal Year 2015 saw 331,333 Southwest border apprehensions
- In FY 2014, U.S. Border Patrol recorded 479,371 apprehensions nationwide
- FY 2013 Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 609,235
- Fiscal Year 2012 had 646,926 apprehensions by Border Patrol agents
- In FY 2011, Southwest border apprehensions reached 1,172,379
- FY 2010 recorded 1,043,074 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
- Fiscal Year 2009 apprehensions were 825,568 nationwide
- In FY 2008, Border Patrol apprehended 1,117,487 individuals
- FY 2007 saw 1,116,845 Southwest border apprehensions
- Fiscal Year 2006 apprehensions totaled 1,285,718 by U.S. Border Patrol
- In FY 2005, there were 1,189,075 apprehensions nationwide
- FY 2004 Border Patrol apprehensions reached 1,160,395
- Fiscal Year 2003 recorded 905,065 apprehensions
- In FY 2002, U.S. Border Patrol had 1,054,159 apprehensions
- FY 2001 apprehensions totaled 1,445,793 nationwide
- Fiscal Year 2000 saw 1,675,876 Southwest border apprehensions
- In FY 1999, Border Patrol apprehended 1,537,624 individuals
- FY 1998 recorded 1,843,739 apprehensions
- Fiscal Year 1997 had 1,357,317 nationwide apprehensions
- In FY 1996, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions reached 1,509,149
- FY 1995 saw 1,330,111 Southwest border apprehensions
- Fiscal Year 1994 recorded 1,004,756 apprehensions by Border Patrol
Annual National Totals Interpretation
While Border Patrol apprehensions from the late 90s prove you can't blame any single administration for creating the problem, the rollercoaster of the last decade—especially the pandemic's drastic dip followed by the dramatic spike—shows just how wildly effective or porous our border can be depending on the policy and political winds of the moment.
Monthly and Quarterly Data
- In January 2024, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 8,347 nationwide
- December 2023 monthly apprehensions by Border Patrol: 42,340
- November 2023 Southwest border apprehensions: 44,720
- October 2023 (FY24 Q1 start) Border Patrol apprehensions: 61,231
- Q4 FY2023 (Jul-Sep 2023) quarterly apprehensions: 659,000 total encounters including apprehensions
- September 2023 monthly U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions: 180,123
- August 2023 apprehensions: 232,972 by Border Patrol
- July 2023 Southwest border apprehensions: 183,469
- Q3 FY2023 (Apr-Jun) quarterly apprehensions averaged 190,000 per month
- June 2023 Border Patrol apprehensions: 144,571
- May 2023 monthly apprehensions: 207,416
- April 2023 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions: 211,181 at Southwest border
- Q2 FY2023 (Jan-Mar) saw 615,000 total apprehensions and encounters
- March 2023 apprehensions: 191,830
- February 2023 Border Patrol apprehensions: 164,973
- January 2023 monthly apprehensions: 258,197 nationwide
- December 2022 apprehensions: 252,315 by U.S. Border Patrol
- November 2022 Southwest border apprehensions: 234,391
Monthly and Quarterly Data Interpretation
While January's low of 8,347 apprehensions might look like a victory, it’s really just the calm after the three-year storm of surging border numbers that preceded it.
Nationality Breakdowns
- In FY 2023, Mexicans constituted 37% of all U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border, totaling approximately 621,000 individuals
- FY 2023 saw 451,513 apprehensions of migrants from Guatemala, representing 27% of total Border Patrol apprehensions
- Hondurans accounted for 17% or about 283,534 of Southwest border apprehensions in FY 2023 by U.S. Border Patrol
- In FY 2023, 102,415 apprehensions involved migrants from El Salvador
- Other nationalities made up 15% of FY 2023 Border Patrol apprehensions, including 250,387 from countries outside Western Hemisphere
- Mexicans were 52% of U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2022, totaling 1,236,000 individuals
- FY 2022 apprehensions of Guatemalans: 423,000 or 18%
- Hondurans comprised 15% or 356,842 of FY 2022 Southwest border apprehensions
- El Salvadorans in FY 2022: 194,000 apprehensions by Border Patrol
- In FY 2022, 11% or 261,683 apprehensions were from other countries like Ecuador and Colombia
- FY 2021 Mexican nationals represented 29% of Border Patrol apprehensions, about 502,000
- Guatemalans: 24% or 416,000 in FY 2021 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
- Hondurans FY 2021: 22% totaling 381,000 apprehensions
- El Salvadorans: 11% or 190,000 in FY 2021
- Other nationalities FY 2021: 14% including 242,686 individuals
Nationality Breakdowns Interpretation
The traditional view of a "Mexican wave" at the border is giving way to a far more complex and globalized human tide, as Central America's share surges and migrants from across the world now form a stubborn 15% slice of the apprehensions pie.
Sector Apprehensions
- Tucson Sector, Arizona, reported 250,651 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2023
- Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas, had 141,760 apprehensions in FY 2023
- Del Rio Sector, Texas, recorded 64,562 Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
- Laredo Sector, Texas, apprehended 26,997 individuals in FY 2023
- El Paso Sector, Texas/New Mexico, had 37,268 apprehensions in FY 2023
- Yuma Sector, Arizona, reported 8,622 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
- San Diego Sector, California, recorded 14,332 apprehensions in FY 2023
- El Centro Sector, California, had 3,451 Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
- Big Bend Sector, Texas, apprehended 1,151 individuals in FY 2023
- Tucson Sector apprehensions in FY 2022 totaled 289,705
- Rio Grande Valley Sector FY 2022 apprehensions: 224,148
- Del Rio Sector recorded 142,578 apprehensions in FY 2022
- Laredo Sector FY 2022: 35,274 Border Patrol apprehensions
- El Paso Sector FY 2022 apprehensions: 82,045
- Yuma Sector FY 2022: 204,991 apprehensions
- San Diego Sector FY 2022: 18,562 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
- El Centro Sector FY 2022: 5,367 apprehensions
- Big Bend Sector FY 2022: 2,450 apprehensions
- Tucson Sector FY 2021 apprehensions: 341,323
- Rio Grande Valley FY 2021: 221,673 Border Patrol apprehensions
- Del Rio Sector FY 2021: 58,308 apprehensions
- Laredo Sector FY 2021: 27,901
- El Paso FY 2021: 52,530 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
- Yuma Sector FY 2021: 23,828 apprehensions
- San Diego FY 2021: 20,589
- El Centro FY 2021: 3,776 Border Patrol apprehensions
- Big Bend FY 2021: 1,358 apprehensions
Sector Apprehensions Interpretation
The numbers are like a stubborn game of Whack-a-Mole where the moles keep moving sectors just as you get your mallet ready.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CBPcbp.govVisit source
- Reference 2DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 3GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 4OYEZoyez.orgVisit source
- Reference 5OJPojp.govVisit source
- Reference 6INSins.usdoj.govVisit source
- Reference 7OHSSohss.dhs.govVisit source
- Reference 8PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 9MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 10CRSREPORTScrsreports.congress.govVisit source