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DHS Encounter Counts

The explanation of how DHS encounter counts are calculated and what they represent, including the distinction between encounters and unique individuals.

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Jan 17, 2026
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How do DHS 'encounters' differ from counts of unique migrants and how are they recorded?

DHS "encounters" count events — every time a removable alien is stopped, apprehended, inadmissible at a port of entry, or expelled — not distinct people, so one person can generate multiple encounters...