50K Migrants Apprehended This Year in Remote Arizona Border Sector

Border Patrol agents in the remote Yuma Sector apprehended more than 50,000 migrants who illegally crossed the border so far this fiscal year. This is nearly double the number of migrants apprehended in Fiscal Years 2017-2018 combined.

The Yuma Sector is now the nation’s third busiest sector in terms of total migrant apprehensions. So far this fiscal year, which began October 1, 2018, agents in this remote region apprehended more than 50,000 illegal immigrants, according to information provided by Yuma Sector Border Patrol officials.

To put this in perspective, Yuma Sector agents apprehended only 26,000 migrants in all of FY2018 and 12,000 the year before that.

Agents in the Yuma Sector continue to be overwhelmed by migrants and smugglers who exploit outdated physical barriers and the remoteness of the region to smuggle large groups across the border. This week alone, agents detained three “large groups.” Border Patrol officials define a large group as 100 or more migrants. On Monday, agents apprehended 800 migrants in a large group. On Tuesday, 500 more migrants were apprehended after crossing the border and another 160 on Wednesday morning, officials reported.

“As these illegal border crossings overwhelm the capacity of our resources and personnel, we remain committed to treat each person we encounter with courtesy and respect, caring for their needs, while protecting individuals from human trafficking and other threats as we enforce U.S. immigration law,” Yuma Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Carl Landrum said in a written statement. “Awareness of the large illegal immigration inflows, of which only 6.4% make a political asylum claim is vital to gaining public and congressional support for a modern immigration system to close legal loopholes, strengthen laws, prosecute violators, and provide funding for infrastructure and support along our nation’s borders.”

Of the 50,000 apprehended migrants this year, more than 30,000 were family unit aliens and nearly 5,000 were unaccompanied minors, according to the April Southwest Border Migration Report.

Yuma Sector officials reported their sector spent more than $1 million in humanitarian costs for the care of the mostly Central American migrant families and unaccompanied minors.