The Tucson Sector in Arizona has observed a notable increase in migrant arrests following a period of decline. According to John Modlin, the Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector, agents apprehended approximately 7,600 migrants last week who illegally crossed the border between official ports of entry. This represents a slight increase from the 7,500 migrants arrested the previous week, as detailed in a weekly recap posted by Agent Modlin on the social media platform X.
This uptick in apprehensions comes after a significant surge earlier in the year, with numbers peaking in February at over 12,000 weekly apprehensions. The figures had decreased to around 6,600 by March but have since shown a steady rise. These statistics underscore the ongoing challenges faced by border enforcement in managing fluctuating migrant flows.
Broader Impact and Sector Comparisons
The increase in migrant apprehensions is not isolated to the Tucson Sector. In a broader context, the San Diego Sector has also seen a rise in migrant arrests, with 25,000 apprehensions recorded in the first three weeks of April alone. For the current fiscal year, which started on October 1, 2023, the San Diego Sector has detained approximately 210,000 migrants, according to an unofficial report.
Cumulatively, from the start of Fiscal Year 24 to date, Border Patrol agents across all sectors have encountered over 1.1 million migrants, with the Tucson Sector accounting for more than 360,000 of these arrests. This makes it the leading sector in terms of migrant apprehensions, followed closely by the San Diego Sector. These figures highlight the significant scale of migration and the pressure it places on border control agencies.
