Border Patrol shifts focus due to plummeting arrests at the southern border

In the United States, recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates a significant decline in border encounters, with current apprehension numbers being the lowest seen in almost six decades. Despite a high number of Border Patrol agents, only about 20,000, the number of arrests in sectors like Arizona is drastically lower than earlier this year. In May 2023, agents in the Yuma sector recorded over 1,100 daily arrests, whereas the same sector averaged only four arrests a day recently. With fewer activities at the southern border, there has been a noticeable shift in the responsibilities of Border Patrol agents. The Department of Homeland Security has revealed that Border Patrol has begun collaborating with ICE agents in various locations far from the southern border, including cities such as Philadelphia and Los Angeles, suggesting a change in operational strategy. This collaboration is likely a response to the need for more personnel in enforcement actions due to decreased activities at the actual border. Immigration advocacy groups are raising concerns about this trend, emphasizing that the Border Patrol has begun acting almost like ICE agents, indicating an extension of their operational reach beyond traditional borders. Significantly, much of the drop in encounters at the southern border can be attributed to the earlier regulations set forth by the Biden administration, showcasing a shift in immigration policy over the course of the previous years. However, even as these policies were implemented, border crossings remained high until more strict regulations were introduced. In stark contrast, the Trump administration had seen historically high numbers of daily crossings earlier, which have now changed entirely under the current enforcement approach. In addition to changing arrest trends, there has been a noted increase in civil unrest, with protests erupting in cities such as Los Angeles against the deportation efforts. This situation reflects the contentious nature of immigration policy and enforcement in the United States and may lead to ongoing debates about the rights and treatment of immigrants and migrants. The current trajectory suggests that if the southern border continues to remain quiet, the trend of deploying Border Patrol agents in non-border areas will likely persist, raising questions about future immigration strategies.