Increase in Migrant Apprehensions Along Southwest Border in May — Nearly All Were Sent Back

Border Patrol Reports Increased Migrant Arrests

A recent, unofficial report from Border Patrol, reviewed by Breitbart Texas, indicates that over 8,500 migrants were apprehended for illegally crossing the southwest border from Mexico during May. This marks the second month in a row of rising alerts. Notably, more than 99% of those arrested were returned either to Mexico or to a safe third country.

This figure shows a slight increase from the nearly 8,300 arrests in April. It’s somewhat concerning as this upward trend follows a noteworthy decline in immigration issues after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

Since President Trump took office about four and a half months ago, agents have been arresting an average of around 9,300 migrants each month. For context, in December, the last month of President Joe Biden’s term, the number of arrests reached over 29,000, which was the lowest point for his administration.

What stands out in this report are the numbers regarding migrants released into the U.S. Despite the monthly average of 9,300 apprehensions, fewer than 80 migrants were allowed to stay. Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shared that releases only happen for those with serious injuries or significant humanitarian needs. Roughly one-third of those who were released are single adults, while the remainder consist of family units. Almost 99.2% of migrants apprehended are sent back to Mexico or their home countries.

This situation contrasts sharply with the policies under the Biden administration. According to a report from the House Judiciary Committee in April 2024, DHS Executive Director Alejandro Mayorkas stated that over 85% of nearly 124,215 migrants were released within the U.S. in January 2024.