Encounters with suspected terrorists at the border increased in July

In the month of July, encounters at the border with Mexico rose by 33%. July was the second full month since the end of Title 42. The month closed with 132,652 apprehensions, according to data released by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). There were more encounters with people on the terrorist watch list in the first seven months of this year (442) than all of the last fiscal year (380).

"Remained stable"

The total number of encounters with people on the terrorist watch list at land border ports of entry increased from 382 to 442, at least 15% more compared to June. So far in FY2023, there have been 70 encounters with undocumented individuals with suspected terrorist ties at the southwest border and 372 at the northern border.

However, the number of encounters was lower than July 2022. There was a similar trend in July as in June, which was the first month since 2020 with fewer encounters than the previous year. CBP was pleased that the number of single adults detained "remained stable" because: "[It] is indicative of the success of our work to maximize the use of Expedited Removal after the end of the Title 42 public health order, which was initially focused primarily on single adults."

However, Border Patrol data shows that during the same period, there was an increase in encounters with unaccompanied minors (from 7,334 to 10,742).