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
1In FY 2023, 75% of apprehended unaccompanied children by Border Patrol were male, totaling 38,000 males out of 50,667
Verified2FY 2023 female family unit apprehensions: 42% or 192,000 out of 456,000 total family units
Verified3Average age of single adults apprehended by Border Patrol in FY 2023 was 32 years, with 65% aged 18-39
Verified4In FY 2023, 52% of all Southwest border apprehensions were adult males, approximately 868,000 individuals
Directional5Unaccompanied minors under 12 years old comprised 28% of UAC apprehensions in FY 2023, totaling 14,187
Single source6FY 2022 Border Patrol apprehensions showed 78% males among single adults, about 1,450,000 males
Verified7Family unit females in FY 2022: 48% or 480,000 out of 1 million
Verified8FY 2022 average age for apprehended family units: 29 years, with 40% under 18
Verified9Adult females single: 22% of single adult apprehensions in FY 2022, totaling 410,000
Directional10UAC males aged 12-17 in FY 2022: 55% or 45,000 out of 82,000 total UAC
Single source11FY 2021 saw 70% male single adults apprehended, 1,210,000 individuals by Border Patrol
Verified12Family unit children under 5: 35% of FY 2021 family apprehensions, about 280,000
Verified13Average age of UAC in FY 2021: 14.5 years
Verified14FY 2021 female UAC: 48% totaling 83,000
Directional15Single adult females FY 2021: 25% or 433,000 apprehensions
Single sourceAge 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
1In Fiscal Year 2023, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,667,849 individuals under Title 8 authorities along the Southwest border
Verified2In Fiscal Year 2022, total U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions nationwide reached 2,378,944 including Title 42 expulsions
Verified3Fiscal Year 2021 saw 1,734,686 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border
Verified4In FY 2020, Border Patrol apprehensions dropped to 405,036 due to COVID-19 restrictions
Directional5FY 2019 recorded 859,501 Southwest border apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol
Single source6Fiscal Year 2018 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 521,090 nationwide
Verified7In FY 2017, there were 526,901 Border Patrol apprehensions along the Southwest border
Verified8FY 2016 apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol reached 408,870
Verified9Fiscal Year 2015 saw 331,333 Southwest border apprehensions
Directional10In FY 2014, U.S. Border Patrol recorded 479,371 apprehensions nationwide
Single source11FY 2013 Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 609,235
Verified12Fiscal Year 2012 had 646,926 apprehensions by Border Patrol agents
Verified13In FY 2011, Southwest border apprehensions reached 1,172,379
Verified14FY 2010 recorded 1,043,074 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
Directional15Fiscal Year 2009 apprehensions were 825,568 nationwide
Single source16In FY 2008, Border Patrol apprehended 1,117,487 individuals
Verified17FY 2007 saw 1,116,845 Southwest border apprehensions
Verified18Fiscal Year 2006 apprehensions totaled 1,285,718 by U.S. Border Patrol
Verified19In FY 2005, there were 1,189,075 apprehensions nationwide
Directional20FY 2004 Border Patrol apprehensions reached 1,160,395
Single source21Fiscal Year 2003 recorded 905,065 apprehensions
Verified22In FY 2002, U.S. Border Patrol had 1,054,159 apprehensions
Verified23FY 2001 apprehensions totaled 1,445,793 nationwide
Verified24Fiscal Year 2000 saw 1,675,876 Southwest border apprehensions
Directional25In FY 1999, Border Patrol apprehended 1,537,624 individuals
Single source26FY 1998 recorded 1,843,739 apprehensions
Verified27Fiscal Year 1997 had 1,357,317 nationwide apprehensions
Verified28In FY 1996, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions reached 1,509,149
Verified29FY 1995 saw 1,330,111 Southwest border apprehensions
Directional30Fiscal Year 1994 recorded 1,004,756 apprehensions by Border Patrol
Single sourceAnnual 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
1In January 2024, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions totaled 8,347 nationwide
Verified2December 2023 monthly apprehensions by Border Patrol: 42,340
Verified3November 2023 Southwest border apprehensions: 44,720
Verified4October 2023 (FY24 Q1 start) Border Patrol apprehensions: 61,231
Directional5Q4 FY2023 (Jul-Sep 2023) quarterly apprehensions: 659,000 total encounters including apprehensions
Single source6September 2023 monthly U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions: 180,123
Verified7August 2023 apprehensions: 232,972 by Border Patrol
Verified8July 2023 Southwest border apprehensions: 183,469
Verified9Q3 FY2023 (Apr-Jun) quarterly apprehensions averaged 190,000 per month
Directional10June 2023 Border Patrol apprehensions: 144,571
Single source11May 2023 monthly apprehensions: 207,416
Verified12April 2023 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions: 211,181 at Southwest border
Verified13Q2 FY2023 (Jan-Mar) saw 615,000 total apprehensions and encounters
Verified14March 2023 apprehensions: 191,830
Directional15February 2023 Border Patrol apprehensions: 164,973
Single source16January 2023 monthly apprehensions: 258,197 nationwide
Verified17December 2022 apprehensions: 252,315 by U.S. Border Patrol
Verified18November 2022 Southwest border apprehensions: 234,391
VerifiedMonthly 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
1In FY 2023, Mexicans constituted 37% of all U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border, totaling approximately 621,000 individuals
Verified2FY 2023 saw 451,513 apprehensions of migrants from Guatemala, representing 27% of total Border Patrol apprehensions
Verified3Hondurans accounted for 17% or about 283,534 of Southwest border apprehensions in FY 2023 by U.S. Border Patrol
Verified4In FY 2023, 102,415 apprehensions involved migrants from El Salvador
Directional5Other nationalities made up 15% of FY 2023 Border Patrol apprehensions, including 250,387 from countries outside Western Hemisphere
Single source6Mexicans were 52% of U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2022, totaling 1,236,000 individuals
Verified7FY 2022 apprehensions of Guatemalans: 423,000 or 18%
Verified8Hondurans comprised 15% or 356,842 of FY 2022 Southwest border apprehensions
Verified9El Salvadorans in FY 2022: 194,000 apprehensions by Border Patrol
Directional10In FY 2022, 11% or 261,683 apprehensions were from other countries like Ecuador and Colombia
Single source11FY 2021 Mexican nationals represented 29% of Border Patrol apprehensions, about 502,000
Verified12Guatemalans: 24% or 416,000 in FY 2021 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
Verified13Hondurans FY 2021: 22% totaling 381,000 apprehensions
Verified14El Salvadorans: 11% or 190,000 in FY 2021
Directional15Other nationalities FY 2021: 14% including 242,686 individuals
Single sourceNationality 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
1Tucson Sector, Arizona, reported 250,651 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2023
Verified2Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas, had 141,760 apprehensions in FY 2023
Verified3Del Rio Sector, Texas, recorded 64,562 Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
Verified4Laredo Sector, Texas, apprehended 26,997 individuals in FY 2023
Directional5El Paso Sector, Texas/New Mexico, had 37,268 apprehensions in FY 2023
Single source6Yuma Sector, Arizona, reported 8,622 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
Verified7San Diego Sector, California, recorded 14,332 apprehensions in FY 2023
Verified8El Centro Sector, California, had 3,451 Border Patrol apprehensions in FY 2023
Verified9Big Bend Sector, Texas, apprehended 1,151 individuals in FY 2023
Directional10Tucson Sector apprehensions in FY 2022 totaled 289,705
Single source11Rio Grande Valley Sector FY 2022 apprehensions: 224,148
Verified12Del Rio Sector recorded 142,578 apprehensions in FY 2022
Verified13Laredo Sector FY 2022: 35,274 Border Patrol apprehensions
Verified14El Paso Sector FY 2022 apprehensions: 82,045
Directional15Yuma Sector FY 2022: 204,991 apprehensions
Single source16San Diego Sector FY 2022: 18,562 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
Verified17El Centro Sector FY 2022: 5,367 apprehensions
Verified18Big Bend Sector FY 2022: 2,450 apprehensions
Verified19Tucson Sector FY 2021 apprehensions: 341,323
Directional20Rio Grande Valley FY 2021: 221,673 Border Patrol apprehensions
Single source21Del Rio Sector FY 2021: 58,308 apprehensions
Verified22Laredo Sector FY 2021: 27,901
Verified23El Paso FY 2021: 52,530 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions
Verified24Yuma Sector FY 2021: 23,828 apprehensions
Directional25San Diego FY 2021: 20,589
Single source26El Centro FY 2021: 3,776 Border Patrol apprehensions
Verified27Big Bend FY 2021: 1,358 apprehensions
VerifiedSector 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