Apprehensions Down 30 Percent Along Southern Border

Apprehensions through the end of the second quarter are down 30 percent compared to the sameperiod during the previous fiscal year, continuing a trend in the overall decline of border apprehensions between ports of entry, according to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency.

From Oct. 1 through March 31, CBP Border Patrol agents made 418,184 arrests along the US southern border compared to 594,142 apprehensions during the same period last year, with all southern bordersectors 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), CBP says.

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, the agency adds.

Under the Secure Border Initiative, CBP continues to strengthen border security efforts through the deployment and integration of tactical infrastructure, proven technology and additional personnel. Other significant efforts include the expansion of expedited removal, thedeployment of National Guard personnel through Operation Jump Start, targeted operations within the sectors and strong federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partnerships, CBP says.

Additionally, Border Patrol agents have seized more than 1 million pounds of marijuana (a 31 percent increase) and 7,275 pounds of cocaine (a122 percent increase) compared to same period in fiscal year 2006. Agents in the Tucson, Ariz., sector accounted for nearly 50 percent of the southern border marijuana seizures with 498,815 pounds and the Rio GrandeValley, Texas, sector accounted for 55 percent of the cocaine seizures with4,021 pounds, CBP says. The total combined estimated value of the narcotics seizedalong the southern border is more than $1.03 billion, it adds.

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