WASHINGTON — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today released operational statistics for March 2024, highlighting significant efforts in border security and migration management amidst ongoing global migration challenges. The details are available on the CBP’s Stats and Summaries webpage.
Troy A. Miller, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, stated, “CBP, in coordination with our partners across the Federal government as well as foreign partners, continues to take significant actions to disrupt criminal networks amidst unprecedented hemispheric migration activity.”
According to the March 2024 statistics, there was a notable reduction in encounters at the southern border, with numbers showing a 45% decrease compared to December 2023 and a 16% decrease from March 2023. The total encounters for the month were recorded at 189,372, encompassing both U.S. Border Patrol encounters between ports of entry and individuals who presented themselves at ports of entry.
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CBP’s efforts in swiftly processing and removing individuals without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. are reflected in the substantial number of removals and returns. From May 12, 2023, to April 3, 2024, DHS has removed or returned over 660,000 individuals, most of whom crossed the southwest border, including more than 102,000 family members.
The Border Patrol also undertook significant rescue operations, conducting 439 rescues in March, which is a 77% increase from January 2024. This is part of CBP’s broader mission to ensure the safety of individuals at the border and mitigate the loss of life.
CBP continues to promote lawful, safe, and orderly migration through tools like the CBP One™ app. The app facilitated 44,000 appointments at ports of entry in March, allowing individuals to present themselves in an organized manner, which helps cut down on unlawful crossings and the exploitation by smugglers.
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Furthermore, the U.S. Border Patrol has seen significant success in interdicting narcotics, with fentanyl seizures increasing by 16.1% compared to February. This aligns with CBP’s goal to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the country and protect communities from the adverse effects of drug trafficking.
For more detailed information on CBP’s operations and to view the complete set of March 2024 statistics, please visit the CBP Stats and Summaries webpage.
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