WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released operational statistics today for December 2024. CBP monthly reporting can be viewed on CBP’s Stats and Summaries webpage.
“The men and women of CBP are continuing their diligent enforcement efforts – and they are having an impact on community safety and national security,” said Pete Flores, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. “In the last six months of 2024, Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border have decreased more than 70% from the same period in 2023. We will stay vigilant as we enhance border security, interdict dangerous drugs, ensure economic security and vitality, protect our nation’s agricultural system, and uphold our other critical missions.”
CBP Southwest Border Enforcement Numbers for December 2024
Since the Biden-Harris Administration took executive action in June, there has been a significant and sustained decrease in unlawful border crossings – including a 60% decrease in encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border from May to December. November and December encounters between ports of entry are now at their lowest level since August 2020 and lower than the monthly average for 2019.
These actions have also led to an increase in the percentage of migrants removed from the United States and a meaningful decrease in the number of people released pending their removal proceedings. Since the Proclamation took effect on June 5, DHS has tripled the percentage of noncitizens processed for Expedited Removal, and the number of individuals released by the U.S. Border Patrol pending immigration court proceedings is down 89%.
From June 5 through the end of December, DHS removed or returned more than 271,000 individuals to more than 160 countries, not including CBP repatriations of noncitizens encountered at airports or the northern border. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) has operated more than 860 international repatriation flights from June 5 through the end of December.
In fiscal year (FY) 2024, DHS completed over 700,000 removals and returns, more than any prior fiscal year since 2010. That includes more removals to countries other than Mexico than in any prior fiscal year. DHS has also reduced the time it takes to remove individuals with final orders of removal who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States by more than half from its historical average. Additionally, the estimated number of migrant “gotaways” – people who crossed the border without encountering CBP – decreased approximately 60% from FY 2023 to FY 2024.
On the northern border, CBP’s expanded enforcement efforts in response to changing migration trends has yielded a reduction in encounters between ports of entry of more than 85% from June to December. Specifically in the Swanton Sector, encounters dropped 89% from June to December.
Below are key operational statistics for CBP’s primary mission areas in December 2024. View all CBP statistics online.
Strengthening Border Security and Managing Migration
CBP, ICE, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continue to expeditiously process, remove, and apply strengthened consequences for individuals who cross the nation’s borders irregularly.
In December, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded approximately 47,330 encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border. The U.S. Border Patrol’s encounters in December were 81% lower than in December 2023, maintaining the downward trend in encounter numbers since June. Total southwest border irregular encounters in December, including encounters at ports of entry of noncitizens without a CBP One appointment, were 52,082 compared to the 51,191 recorded in November.
The Presidential Proclamation and Final Rule have enhanced DHS’s ability to deliver swift consequences to individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety, such as gang members attempting to enter the country unlawfully DHS has also returned more U.S. Border Patrol agents to the field to undertake front line border security operations, enhancing DHS efforts to interdict individuals who pose a threat to public safety or national security. These efforts continue to expand and maximize DHS enforcement against individuals who pose a threat to our communities.
The U.S. Border Patrol has undertaken significant efforts in recent years to expand capacity to aid and rescue individuals in distress. To prevent the loss of life, CBP initiated a Missing Migrant Program in 2017 that locates noncitizens reported missing, rescues individuals in distress, and reunifies decedents’ remains with their families in the border region. In December, the U.S. Border Patrol conducted 402 rescues. The U.S. Border Patrol has recorded 1,175 rescues in fiscal year 2025 through December.
View more migration statistics and rescues statistics.
CBP One™ App
The CBP One™ mobile application is a key scheduling tool and part of DHS’s efforts to incentivize noncitizens to use lawful, safe, humane, and orderly pathways and processes. Noncitizens who cross between the ports of entry or who present themselves at a port of entry without making a CBP One™ appointment are generally subject to the Securing the Border Final Rule that limits asylum eligibility. DHS encourages migrants to use lawful processes, rather than taking the dangerous journey to cross unlawfully between the ports of entry, which also carries significant consequences under the United States immigration laws.
Use of the CBP One™ app to schedule appointments at ports of entry has significantly increased CBP’s capacity to process migrants in a more efficient and orderly manner while cutting out unscrupulous smugglers who endanger and profit from vulnerable migrants. The suspension and limitation on entry and Final Rule does not apply to noncitizens who use the CBP One™ mobile app to enter the United States at a port of entry in a safe and orderly manner to avail themselves to lawful processes.
In December, CBP processed almost 44,000 individuals at ports of entry with information submitted in advance through CBP One™. Since the appointment scheduling function in CBP One™ was introduced in January 2023 through the end of December 2024, more than 936,500 individuals have successfully scheduled appointments to present at ports of entry instead of risking their lives in the hands of smugglers. The top nationalities processed with appointments through CBP One™ are Venezuelan, Cuban, and Mexican.
CHNV Parole Processes
DHS continues to process new Advance Travel Authorizations (ATAs) in the parole processes for certain nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV). As part of an internal review, DHS has implemented additional safeguards to the CHNV processes, incorporating rigorous enhanced vetting of US-based supporters, including biographic and biometric screening.
All CHNV beneficiaries continue to be thoroughly screened and vetted by CBP prior to their arrival to the United States and must meet other eligibility criteria for advanced authorization to travel to the United States in a safe, orderly, and lawful way. Noncitizens with advanced authorization to travel purchase their own commercial airline tickets to come to the United States.
Through the end of December, about 531,690 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans arrived lawfully and were granted parole under the parole processes. Specifically, 110,970 Cubans, 213,150 Haitians, 96,270 Nicaraguans, and 120,760 Venezuelans were vetted and authorized for travel; and 110,240 Cubans, 211,040 Haitians, 93,070 Nicaraguans, and 117,330 Venezuelans arrived and were granted parole.
Since DHS has implemented these safe, orderly and lawful processes, encounters of CHNV nationals in between ports of entry are down 91%.
Safeguarding Communities by Interdicting Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
As the largest law enforcement agency in the United States, CBP is uniquely positioned to detect, identify, and seize illicit drugs like fentanyl before they enter our communities. CBP’s combination of interdiction and intelligence capabilities, complemented by its border search authorities, scientific services, non-intrusive inspection equipment, and canine detection teams, places it at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat illicit fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.
CBP surged its enforcement efforts this year to further increase efforts to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that smuggle fentanyl, dangerous drugs, and other contraband with no regard for human life. There have been significant results from these operations. In the last two fiscal years, CBP seized record amounts of fentanyl – nearly 50,000 pounds – enough to produce more than 2 billion lethal doses.
In December 2024, CBP seized 1,148 pounds of fentanyl. Nationwide in December, CBP seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana (combined, by weight) increased 2.7% from November. December seizures of cocaine increased by 296% and heroin increased 341% compared to November.
Additional CBP drug seizure statistics can be found on the Drug Seizure Statistics webpage.
Facilitating Lawful Trade and Travel
CBP encourages travelers to utilize mobile applications with technological enhancements to help speed up the travel process when entering the United States via air, land, or sea. Global Entry, for example, launched a new mobile app last year that allows members to complete their entry processing on their phones before even leaving the plane. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play, and is currently available for use at 47 airports, with more locations coming soon. International travelers who are not Global Entry members can take advantage of the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app, which allows travelers to submit their passport and travel information in advance with a mobile device, resulting in less congestion and more efficient processing.
These innovative improvements reflect CBP’s commitment to facilitating lawful trade and travel and contributing to the country’s economic growth. The number of pedestrians arriving by land at ports of entry increased 2.6% from December 2023 to December 2024. The number of travelers arriving by air into the United States increased 6.9% over the same period. Passenger vehicles processed at ports of entry increased 5.2% and commercial trucks processed at ports of entry increased 3.6%.
CBP works diligently with the trade community and port operators to ensure that merchandise is cleared as efficiently as possible and to strengthen international supply chains and improve border security. In December 2024, CBP processed more than 2.8 million entry summaries valued at more than $290 billion, identifying estimated duties of nearly $7.4 billion to be collected by the U.S. government. In December, trade via the ocean environment accounted for 40% of the total import value, followed by air, truck, and rail.
View more travel statistics, and trade statistics.
Protecting Consumers and Eradicating Forced Labor from Supply Chains
CBP continues to lead U.S. government efforts to eliminate goods from the supply chain made with forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. In December, CBP stopped 1,404 shipments valued at more than $18.7 million for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor, and which may be subject to a Withhold Release order, Forced Labor Finding, or the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s rebuttable presumption, and prohibited importation into the United States under 19 U.S.C. § 1307.
In December, CBP issued a Finding against a Chinese-owned entity in the Dominican Republic based on information indicating the use of forced labor in the production of aluminum extrusion and profile products used to build transportation and construction products, furniture, electronics, and more. With this Finding issuance, CBP currently oversees and enforces 51 withhold release orders and Findings under 19 U.S.C. § 1307.
CBP also seizes millions of counterfeit products every year worth billions of dollars had they been genuine. In December, CBP seized 1,687 shipments that contained counterfeit goods valued at more than $110 million. Consumers are encouraged to be alert to the dangers of counterfeit goods especially when shopping online as they support criminal activity, hurt American businesses, and often have materials or ingredients that can pose serious health and safety risks.
Criminal groups are exploiting the explosive growth of e-commerce to sell illicit products and drugs, including fentanyl, through online platforms. CBP is working with DHS to move the 21st Century Customs Framework statutory package through an interagency review process in order to improve CBP’s ability to interdict these illicit products. At the same time, CBP is working with Department of Treasury to ensure the de minimis regulatory package enters interagency review.
CBP completed 48 audits in December that identified $8 million in duties and fees owed to the U.S. government, stemming from goods that had been improperly declared in accordance with U.S. trade laws and customs regulations. CBP collected over $519 million of this identified revenue and from previous fiscal years’ assignments. View more UFLPA enforcement statistics, and intellectual property rights enforcement statistics.
Agriculture Stats/Seizures – Securing American Agriculture
In December 2024, CBP agriculture specialists helped protect America’s agriculture, natural resources, and economic prosperity.
CBP issued 6,580 emergency action notifications for restricted and prohibited plant and animal products entering the United States.
- CBP conducted 98,420 positive passenger inspections and issued 631 civil penalties and/or violations to the traveling public for failing to declare prohibited agriculture items.