SAN DIEGO — United States Border Patrol agents of San Diego Sector have demonstrated significant law enforcement achievements along the sector’s 60 linear miles of border shared with Mexico and the 931 miles of coastal border during fiscal year 2019.
San Diego Sector currently employs over 2,200 uniformed agents assigned to six line-watch stations in Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, Brown Field, El Cajon, Campo, and Boulevard, and two northern egress stations in San Clemente and Murrieta. This is a significant deployment of personnel when compared to the staffing levels of 1993, when San Diego Sector had approximately 1,000 agents.
In fiscal year 2019, San Diego Sector Border Patrol continued with its risk-based strategy utilizing the three pillars of information, integration, and rapid response to maintain a level of effective border control. This control was obtained by identifying cross-border threats, utilizing and maximizing partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, and deploying a rapid response to mitigate these threats quickly and effectively.
Kathleen Scudder, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of San Diego Sector said, “I have been very pleased with our progress within San Diego Sector’s area of responsibility, particularly with the long overdue and ongoing replacement infrastructure.”
The new primary wall upgrade project was completed in August and the secondary wall project is still ongoing, expected to be completed in January 2020. Four miles of new wall upgrade in the Tecate area is expected to be completed by August of 2020.
From Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2019, San Diego Sector Border Patrol accomplishments included the apprehension of 58,049 persons for illegal entry into the country. This is a 50 percent increase from fiscal year 2018, when there were 38,591 apprehensions. This increase can be mostly attributed to the influx of family units and unaccompanied children and adults particularly from countries other than Mexico. San Diego Sector saw its highest number of people from countries other than Mexico ever with a total of 27,255 this fiscal year from a previous high number during the prior fiscal year of 11,509, a 137 percent increase. From fiscal years 2009-2015 other than Mexican’s averaged around 1,500 per year.
Although apprehension have increased from the previous fiscal year, maintaining these numbers through deterrence remains a significant achievement considering in 2008, San Diego Sector’s fiscal year apprehensions were 162,390 and in fiscal year 1986 there were 628,370 apprehensions, a record number for San Diego.
San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents processed a total of 3,335 unaccompanied alien children this fiscal year compared to 2,491 last fiscal year, a 34 percent increase. Sector agents also processed 16,174 family units compared to 4,408 the prior fiscal year, a 267 percent increase.
Despite a significant percentage of our workforce being tasked with accomplishing humanitarian efforts during FY19, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents seized 3,273 pounds of marijuana, a 58 percent decrease over fiscal year 2018. Cocaine seizures decreased 30 percent to 1,284 pounds; methamphetamine seizures decreased 25 percent to 3,918 pounds; fentanyl seizures decreased 65 percent from around 309 pounds to 108 pounds, and heroin seizures increased 39 percent to over 383 pounds.
These results did not occur without significant challenges and enormous dangers. As wall construction continues, criminal organizations grow frustrated by their inability to move their illicit cargo into our communities. In San Diego Sector there were a total of 156 assaults on agents while in the performance of their duties. This was 117 percent increase from the prior fiscal year of 72. In 2008, there were 377 incidents, a highpoint for recorded assaults on agents.
This fiscal year San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents rescued 20 people as compared to 25 people last fiscal year.
“These amazing results are the direct result of the hard work the professional women and men in uniform do while serving honorably and courageously protecting our communities,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Scudder. “Our agents will remain vigilant in protecting America.”