Per a statistical breakdown that is current as of March 3, Texas border patrol sectors saw 89,107 apprehensions last month, which is a 17 percent drop from December. However, it is nearly double the approximate 50,117 arrests reported in January of last year. There have been about half of a million border arrests in Texas sectors so far this Fiscal Year, which began in October.
In January, there was a notable decrease in families and children being taken into custody. In Texas sectors, CBP reported a 36 percent drop in family unit apprehensions from the previous month and a 27 percent decrease in unaccompanied minors. In addition, there was a 7 percent decrease in single adult apprehensions.
One of the problems arising from the elevated levels of illegal immigration has been families and children being kept in crowded border patrol facilities for longer than appropriate due to limited space and resources.
About 31 percent of the arrests in Texas sectors last month were of Mexicans, 12 percent were of Hondurans, 12 percent were of Guatemalans, and 6 percent were of Salvadorans. 39 percent were of some other nationality.
CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus commented on the report in a press release.
“CBP’s January Monthly Operational Update shows migratory flows decreased in January, with CBP personnel encountering 14 percent fewer individuals along the Southwest border than December. Most encounters in January were of single adults and a majority were expelled under Title 42,” Magnus said.
Contained in Title 42 are the special immigration laws that apply when there is a risk of spreading a communicable disease. Former President Trump invoked the statutes at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and President Biden has continued the policy during his administration.
In the southwestern U.S. overall, CBP reported 153,941 apprehensions last month, which is a 96 percent increase from 78,414 reported in January of last year. During the Trump administration, there were 36,585 encounters reported in January 2020 and 58,317 reported in January 2019.
CBP continues to emphasize that many illegal aliens taken into custody have been arrested multiple times for crossing unlawfully. In the southwestern U.S., there was an 18 percent decrease in “unique individuals” arrested in January compared to December.
Border security has taken center stage in many Republican races in Texas ahead of the March 1 Republican primary. GOP candidates have repeatedly called for the continuation of the border wall and additional support for border agents.
The Biden administration, through a surplus federal property program, recently provided approximately $6 million worth of border wall materials to the State of Texas as the Texas Facilities Commission works to construct the state border wall.
Update: Figures and percentages in this article have been updated.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
