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Fact check: How many illegal immigrants were apprehended at the US-Mexico border in 2024?
Executive Summary
The most reliable, directly reported figure for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Border Patrol apprehensions between ports of entry is 1,530,523, a 25% decline from FY2023’s 2,045,838, as shown in CBP’s weekly Border Update and summarized in congressional reporting [1]. Broader CBP tallies describe roughly 2.9 million nationwide encounters in FY2024 with about 1.53 million at the Southwest border between ports and another ~604,482 at ports of entry, producing roughly 2.1–3.0 million total Southwest-border encounters depending on counting methods and definitions used [2] [1] [3].
1. Why one headline number can mislead — two ways agencies count the border
Different official tallies use distinct definitions, and that explains why reported totals vary. Border Patrol “apprehensions between ports of entry” [4] [5] [6] measures migrants stopped between checkpoints, a figure explicitly cited in CBP weekly accounts and House committee summaries [1]. By contrast, CBP’s broader “encounters” or “inadmissible encounters” aggregate people encountered at both ports and between ports, which yields higher totals — the House Committee and CBP cite nearly 2.9 million nationwide encounters and 2.1 million to nearly 3 million in Southwest-border measures depending on whether ports of entry are included [2] [3]. Knowing which metric is used is essential when interpreting “how many were apprehended.”
2. The 1.53 million figure: what it captures and what it omits
The 1,530,523 number reflects CBP Border Patrol apprehensions between ports of entry during FY2024 and is consistent across CBP weekly updates and congressional fact sheets [1]. This count excludes encounters recorded at ports of entry (official crossings) and certain inadmissibility actions; CBP separately reports 604,482 migrants who entered custody at ports of entry in FY2024, a 41% rise from 2023, which, when combined, increases total Southwest-border encounters [1]. Policy debates often conflate these categories, so the 1.53 million figure alone understates total CBP contact with migrants in FY2024.
3. Broader totals: 2.1 million vs. nearly 3 million — why they differ
Independent analysts and CBP releases offer different aggregations: Migration Policy Institute reports 2.1 million total Southwest-border encounters for FY2024, a 14% decline from FY2023’s nearly 2.5 million [3]. The House Committee on Homeland Security and some CBP summaries present “nearly 3 million inadmissible encounters” nationwide and over 1.5 million at the Southwest border between ports, noting that almost half of nationwide encounters occur at ports of entry [2]. Methodological differences — whether repeat encounters, family unit processing, or port-of-entry inadmissibility actions are included — drive the gap between 2.1 million and ~3 million totals.
4. Month-to-month dynamics: rapid declines in late 2024 and early 2025
Monthly data show sharp declines toward the end of 2024 and into 2025: CBP’s December 2024 update recorded about 47,330 southwest border encounters between ports, an 81% drop from December 2023 [7]. Subsequent reporting through January and February 2025 shows continued lower flows, with media noting declines in apprehensions in early 2025 [8]. Seasonal, policy, and enforcement changes can compress flows quickly, so annual totals need context: FY2024 was down from 2023, and late-2024 monthly drops contributed materially to the year-over-year reduction [1] [7].
5. What analysts and committees emphasize — trends, not single numbers
Migration Policy Institute highlights a 14% decline in encounters year-over-year and stresses counting nuances [3], while the House Committee underscores the nearly 3 million nationwide encounters and concentrates on ports-of-entry increases [2]. CBP’s own weekly updates emphasize the 25% decline in between-port apprehensions [1]. Each source uses the data to support different narratives — reductions in crossings, pressure at ports, or the scale of overall encounters — so readers should assess which metric aligns with their question.
6. Bottom line for the original question — clear answer with caveats
If the question asks “How many illegal immigrants were apprehended at the US‑Mexico border in 2024?” the most direct CBP Border Patrol count for apprehensions between ports of entry is 1,530,523 in FY2024 [1]. If the intent is total CBP encounters at the Southwest border including ports of entry, analysts report between about 2.1 million and nearly 3 million, depending on definitions and whether nationwide inadmissibility encounters are counted [3] [2]. Always specify whether you mean “between ports,” “including ports,” or “nationwide encounters” to avoid confusion.