Fact check: Which US border sectors had the highest number of crossings in May 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, El Paso sector had the highest number of border crossings in May 2025, with 2,014 apprehensions accounting for 23% of total apprehensions ^[1]. This marked the fourth consecutive month that El Paso led all sectors in migrant apprehensions. The El Paso sector encompasses far west Texas and all of New Mexico ^[1].

Following El Paso, the Tucson Sector, Rio Grande Valley Sector, and San Diego Sector were the next highest for border encounters, though specific numbers for these sectors were not provided in the analyses ^[1].

The overall context shows that May 2025 saw historically low border crossing numbers, with CBP encountering 8,725 illegal aliens crossing the southwest border between ports of entry ^[2] and a 93% decrease in encounters along the southwest border compared to May 2024 ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements missing from the original question:

• Historic nature of the low numbers: The May 2025 figures represent a "historic low in illegal immigration" ^[4], making the sector rankings less significant in absolute terms than they might appear
• Trump administration policies: The dramatic decrease coincided with "aggressive deportation efforts" by the Trump administration ^[4], suggesting policy changes significantly impacted crossing patterns
• Different types of encounters: The data encompasses various categories including "Title 8 Apprehensions and Title 42 Expulsions" ^[5], which may affect how crossings are counted and categorized
• Incomplete sector data: While El Paso clearly led, specific numbers for other high-ranking sectors like Tucson, Rio Grande Valley, and San Diego were not provided in the analyses ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks for factual data about border sector rankings. However, the question could be misleading without proper context because:

• Asking about "highest number of crossings" without noting that May 2025 represented historic lows could create a false impression of high border activity
• The question doesn't acknowledge that even the "highest" sectors had relatively small numbers compared to previous periods
• Political timing considerations: Given the 93% decrease coinciding with the Trump administration's policies, presenting sector rankings without this context could serve political narratives that either emphasize continued border challenges or administration effectiveness

The analyses suggest that while El Paso led in absolute numbers, the overall border situation in May 2025 was characterized by unprecedented low crossing levels across all sectors.