In McAllen, Texas, (Border Report) reports that while the Southwest border is experiencing historically low apprehension rates, there’s been a significant surge in arrests at the northern border in Maine. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the increase in apprehensions is noteworthy.
In April, Border Patrol agents in Maine recorded the highest number of arrests for any single month in the past 24 years. Among those detained were 113 migrants hailing from 16 different countries, as stated by CBP.
The Houlton Sector of the Border Patrol, located opposite Woodstock, Canada, revealed that on May 11, Border Patrol agents, in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement Removal Operations agents, arranged air transportation for 29 individuals apprehended in Portland, Maine, relocating them to other areas of the country for further processing.
“Here in Maine, Border Patrol Agents are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep our border secure. If you attempt to cross the border illegally, you will be apprehended. If you are present in the United States without a legal status, you will be detained and removed in accordance with all applicable immigration laws,” Houlton Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Craig Shepley said.
Shepley encourages those in the country illegally to self deport using the CBP Home app offered by the Department of Homeland Security, which can be accessed at the CBP website.
In April, encounters by Border Patrol agents on the Southwest border were down 93% from April 2024. This included just 1,342 arrests in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas — an 84% drop from the previous year, CBP reports.
The No. 1 sector on the Southwest border for arrests in April was El Paso with 1,959 apprehensions, according to the latest data by CBP. The El Paso Sector stretches from the New Mexico-Arizona state line to Hudspeth County, Texas.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
