Current Impact

New Border Security Technologies Pilot Program initiated Bringing LIDAR into the forefront.

The same technology used in self-driving cars is being touted as a potential high-tech solution to the US border wall conundrum—with some added benefits. At least one startup at the Consumer Electronics show is showcasing how Lidar, a laser-based detection system widely used in autonomous vehicles, could be deployed along the US-Mexico border at a far lower cost than a physical wall or fence, and with fewer environmental impacts.

An electronic solution offers additional benefits, including for the environment and in operating costs. More technology solutions mean that Border Patrol Agents can be strategically placed along the border to be more effective in apprehending illegal border-crossers.

A decade ago, the US government canceled plans for an electronic fence, amid concerns it would be ineffective. But new technologies have vastly improved in recent years, notably with the development of Lidar—light detection and ranging technology—paired with artificial intelligence.

Maritime Security is best achieved by blending public and private maritime security activities on a global scale.

Maritime Security training of personnel continues to be one of the core tasks of our agency. The US Coast Guard is our countries primary agencies in all matters maritime with approximately 38,000 active duty personnel. Considering the critical infrastructure located within our ports, their service is critical in the safety and security of our country’s homeland and economic security.

We have played an active role in the training of hundreds of personnel from local and state agencies who act as a force multiplier for the USCG. It is only through a collaborative effort that national standard training is delivered to personnel throughout the country. Teaching one standard allows for officers to be integrated seamlessly in the event a natural or man-made disaster occurs. Over the years we have and continue to train officers and first responders, including fire services and EMS, in a wide range of technical skills.

Our courses have been taught throughout the US and to the US territory of Guam. We are currently in negotiations to bring training to South Korea, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.

“In reference to the border, we have to stop the bleeding before we can diagnose the problem.”

Nelson Balido Jr. | April 2019

Southwest Border Migration FY 2019

Number of Apprehensions

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces May 2019 Migration Statistics

Release Date:

June 5, 2019

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection released the agency’s May 2019 migration statistics today, which indicate that fiscal year to date (FYTD) enforcement actions on the Southwest border reached 676,315, up 99 percent over last year at this time.

Total apprehensions on the Southwest border by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) reached 593,507. In the previous seven years, the highest fiscal year total of apprehensions was 479, 371 in 2014 – which U.S. Border Patrol has already exceeded by 24 percent through May of this year.

“We are experiencing a system-wide emergency that is severely impacting our workforce, facilities and resources,” said Acting CBP Commissioner John P. Sanders.

In May, USBP made 132,887 apprehensions on the Southwest border. The previous high total of apprehensions on the Southwest border for May over the past seven years was 60,683, occurring in 2014, which is less than half of this May’s apprehensions. CBP has seen an increase in all key areas of apprehension at and between ports of entry, including Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC); Family Units (FUA); and Single Adults.

While each key category has seen an increase, the percentage of UAC and Family Units also continues to rise. UACs and FUAs represent 66 percent of all Southwest border apprehensions for FYTD 2019. For the month of May, they represented 72 percent of all Southwest border apprehensions.

The migrants are mainly coming from the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) and Mexico. 78 percent of the Southwest border apprehensions in May came from the Northern Triangle. If Mexico is added, the Northern Triangle and Mexico account for 91 percent of all apprehensions on the Southwest border.

Many of these apprehensions are large groups. USBP defines a large group as any group consisting of more than 100 people. In FY 2017, USBP encountered two such groups. The number grew to 13 groups in FY 2018. USBP has already encountered over 180 large groups this fiscal year. The two largest groups ever encountered by USBP were apprehended in May, groups of more than 400 and 1,000 people.

The impacts of the crisis to legitimate trade and travel cannot be overstated. CBP has moved over 1,000 Agents and CBP Officers (roughly five percent of its workforce) from ports of entry to assist USBP with processing the surge of migrants being apprehended. The reassignment of officers from the ports of entry to the USBP facilities comes with consequences. Pedestrian, passenger vehicle, and commercial trucks trying to cross the border are experiencing uncharacteristically long delays. Some ports of entry have been forced to close some travel lanes and curtail some weekend cargo processing hours.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.