Tucson Border Patrol overwhelmed: 58,000 encounters in a month for 3,600 agents

The 3,600 Border Patrol agents in Tucson (Arizona) have been completely overwhelmed by the more than 58,000 encounters recorded so far in November in that sector of the southern border alone. John Modlin, chief of border officials in this area, announced last Sunday that the available agents can only dedicate themselves to managing immigrant arrivals, suspending all other activities, including the management of social networks. Given the seriousness of the situation, nearby offices have been called to reinforce their colleagues, requiring them to reduce their tasks in their own areas to a minimum.

One in every three October meetings, in Tucson

With the official data in hand, the Customs and Border Protection Office indicates that Tucson was the sector of the southern border that detained the most illegal immigrants in the first month of fiscal year 2024. In October, 55,224 encounters were registered in this sector alone, about 17,000 more than Del Río, the second most affected sector and almost 23,000 more than in Rio Grande, the third. What's more, arrests in this territory accounted for 30% of the total on the southern border.

Almost 2,200 daily meetings

Modlin has been warning throughout November that the situation, far from improving, is getting worse. Each week, Tucson agents have detained no less than 14,000 illegal immigrants, in addition to seizing a significant amount of drugs, especially fentanyl. Last week, the numbers reached 15,300 meetings, more than 2,100 a day.

Encounters with immigrants and armed human traffickers increase

As if that were not enough, several of the incidents put the physical integrity of the agents at risk, including arrests of armed human traffickers. On some occasions - increasingly more frequently, according to Modlin - it is the immigrants themselves who carry weapons and, on occasion, confront the agents.

All agents from nearby stations, reinforce Tucson

The situation has overwhelmed the few agents to the point of reducing all menial tasks and even patrols. Given the situation, CBP officials ordered the agents deployed in Douglas (Arizona) to reinforce their colleagues "to support in the processing and transportation of illegals," according to a document to which the Daily Caller was given access. In addition, the agents of this station must patrol with horses and monitor sensors to locate illegal immigrants who escape. According to the note, only one agent will remain to care for the horses.