According to authorities, arrests for crossing the U.S. border illegally saw a slight decrease in March, contrary to the usual spring increase, due to heightened immigration enforcement in Mexico. The Border Patrol reported 137,480 arrests of individuals entering from Mexico, marking a 2.3% drop from February's 140,638 arrests. This decline in March arrests is the first since 2017, with crossings typically surging as temperatures warm up.
Mexico's enforcement efforts have intensified, detaining migrants 240,000 times in the initial two months of the year, a significant increase from the same period in 2023. This has led to a diversion of migrants further south within Mexico to deter them from heading to the United States. While specific figures for March from Mexico are yet to be released, U.S. officials credit Mexican enforcement for the recent downturn in border crossings.
Acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Troy Miller, emphasized the agency's readiness to adapt to evolving criminal activities and migration trends despite the current decrease in encounters at the southern border. The March arrest figures represent one of the lowest during President Joe Biden's tenure, following a peak of nearly 250,000 arrests in December.
Tucson, Arizona, retained its position as the busiest sector on the Mexican border in March, with San Diego and El Paso, Texas, following closely. The Rio Grande Valley in Texas, historically a hotspot for illegal crossings, ranked fifth in March, indicating shifting migration routes.
Excluded from the arrest tally are new legal pathways introduced under presidential parole powers, allowing temporary stays and work permit applications. In March, over 44,000 individuals were granted entry through the CBP One online appointment system at land crossings with Mexico. Since its launch in January, CBP One has facilitated entry for more than 547,000 individuals, predominantly from Venezuela, Haiti, and Mexico.
Furthermore, over 400,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have entered the U.S. through March by applying online with a financial sponsor and arriving at airports, covering their expenses.
