US border migrant arrests drop 95 percent in year

Migrant arrests at the southwestern border of the United States fell by 95 percent over the past 12 months.

The U.S. government attributes this sharp decline to specific immigration policies and security measures, as well as coordination with Mexican authorities. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson described the current figures as historically low levels of irregular crossings.

Johnson added that September marked the 17th consecutive month in which detained migrants were not released into U.S. communities. This operational shift has altered the dynamic at the border, particularly in Tijuana.

Local activists and rights defenders state that stricter surveillance has made entry more difficult. Jose Maria Garcia Lara, a migrant rights advocate, noted an increased presence of security personnel from both nations alongside changes to border infrastructure.

"There is somewhat extreme surveillance, the U.S. National Guard on their side and the National Guard also on the Mexican side; they raised the wall a bit more," Garcia Lara said. He argued that irregular crossings will persist because men and women continue to seek better life opportunities.

"But the reality is that this will continue to happen here on our border," Garcia Lara stated. "There will be migrant people, women and men, who seek better opportunities for life and dare to cross irregularly to the United States. I believe there are already several examples of what has happened, with several precedents from last year to the current year, various situations with attempts to cross."

The General Consulate of Mexico in San Diego has issued prevention warnings for those planning to enter the United States via unofficial points. Consul General Alicia Kerber highlighted the specific dangers of maritime routes, noting that crossings between ports of entry without documents carry high risks.