EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents working in the El Paso Sector continue to encounter increased numbers of migrants in the month of June and throughout the year.
Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) total migrant encounters are 135,326, which is up 288 percent from the same time frame FY20. The El Paso Sector is on pace to meet or exceed the record numbers from the ‘Migrant Crisis’ in FY19. The top five nationalities encountered in the El Paso Sector in FY21 are Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Cuba.
More than 77 percent of the primary demographic apprehended are single adults attempting to evade arrest and NOT seek asylum. There have been 104,208 single adults encountered so far in FY21 compared to a total of 39,006 single adults encountered in the El Paso Sector in FY20.
In FY21, there have been 15,877 unaccompanied children encountered within the El Paso Sector. With more than two months remaining in FY21, this number is already more than three times last year’s total of 4,835.
The number of Family Units apprehended this year at 15, 241 has already surpassed last year’s number of 10,555.
Presently, El Paso Sector agents have arrested a total of 1,815 individuals in 195 stash houses. Agents have also foiled 920 human smuggling schemes this FY alone.
El Paso Sector narcotics totals for the year include:
• More than 5,000 lbs. of marijuana
• More than 600 lbs. of methamphetamine
• More than 300 lbs. of cocaine
• More than 40 lbs. of fentanyl
• More than 30 lbs. heroin
Due to the historic pace of encounters in FY21, agents have been involved in 245 rescues, 20 migrant deaths and 36 El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents have been assaulted.
“Our El Paso Sector agents continue to disrupt the operations and smuggling attempts of the Transnational Criminal Organization in our region” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “I am extremely proud of the men and women of the El Paso Sector who continuously display professionalism, commitment, and resilience while executing our very important National Security mission.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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