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DHS Immigration Encounter Data

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's method of counting immigration events, including encounters and arrests, and how these numbers are reported and interpreted.

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Jan 12, 2026
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How do DHS monthly tables define and count “encounters” versus “arrests” in border statistics?

The DHS monthly tables count “encounters” as immigration events recorded primarily by CBP—an umbrella tally that includes Border Patrol apprehensions, Office of Field Operations inadmissibles at ports...