How many migrant encounters are there along the US-Mexico border each month?
Data updated October 29, 2024
About 54K encounters in September 2024. The US Border Patrol reported that encounters were 75.4% lower in September 2024 compared to September 2023. These encounters, which include both the apprehension and expulsion of undocumented migrants at the US-Mexico border between official entry points, do not necessarily represent individual people. The same person can be counted multiple times if they are encountered on more than one occasion.
In September 2024
54K
border encounters occurred
In September 2024
75.4%
fewer encounters occurred than in September 2023
There was a decrease in migrant encounters at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Encounter levels during this time period were similar to the low levels reported between 2010 and 2015.
Around mid-2020, encounters increased and remained high along the southwest US border, peaking in December 2023 at 249,740 before decreasing in 2024.
Encounters increased to record heights during the COVID-19 pandemic
The US-Mexico border is nearly 2,000 miles long and spans five states. Encounters with migrants occur at different rates along the entire border. The US Border Patrol divides this area into 9 distinct regions, each managed as a single border patrol sector.
In September 2024, encounters were highest in the San Diego Border Patrol Sector
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Encounters in all nine border patrol sectors are declining, indicating a broader trend of decreased activity along the border. The decrease is largest in the Rio Grande Valley sector, where the number of encounters has decreased by 89.8% between September 2023 and September 2024. These changes in the number of encounters along the border may reflect changing migration routes or policy shifts.
Encounters decreased the most in the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector
