Migrant Encounters Jump 25% in March, CBP Reports

The number of migrants encountered by Border Patrol agents along the Southwest border increased significantly last month.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone Border Patrol vehicle parked on a dusty road, the warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene and creating a palpable sense of isolation and contemplation.As the Biden administration grapples with a rise in migrant encounters at the Southwest border, the solitary presence of a Border Patrol vehicle evokes a sense of quiet contemplation on the complex realities of border security.Harlingen Today

The number of migrants encountered by Border Patrol agents along the Southwest border shot up by 25% in March, according to new data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A total of 8,268 migrants were encountered in March, up from 6,598 in February, though still drastically down from the same period in 2024.

Why it matters

The increase in migrant encounters at the border is a closely watched metric that reflects the ongoing challenges the Biden administration faces in managing immigration flows. While the numbers remain far below the highs seen under the previous administration, the uptick in March could renew political debates over border security and immigration policy.

The details

The Rio Grande Valley Sector once again had the most encounters among the nine sectors of the Southwest border, with 1,783 encounters in March, an increase of nearly 400 from February. Single adults made up the vast majority of encounters in the Rio Grande Valley Sector in March (1,578), while there were also 145 unaccompanied minor children encountered, the sixth consecutive month the sector has led the nation in the number of unaccompanied youth apprehended.

  • The data was released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on April 10, 2026.
  • The March 2026 numbers represent a 25% increase from February 2026.
  • In March 2024, Border Patrol agents encountered 128,895 people along the Southwest border.

The players

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The federal agency responsible for border security and immigration enforcement.

Markwayne Mullin

The former Homeland Security Secretary who claimed the March numbers reflected nearly a year of zero releases at the border under the Trump administration.

The White House

The current administration, which said deportations and removal orders are surging and that 'criminal illegals are removed faster and in far greater numbers than ever before'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Eleven straight months of zero releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump's leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history.”

— Markwayne Mullin, Former Homeland Security Secretary

“Deportations and removal orders are surging. In fiscal Year 2025, immigration courts issued nearly 500,000 removal orders — a 57% increase over the prior year. Criminal illegals are removed faster and in far greater numbers than ever before.”

— The White House

The takeaway

The increase in migrant encounters at the border, while still far below previous highs, highlights the ongoing challenges the Biden administration faces in managing immigration flows and border security. The political debate over these issues is likely to continue, with both sides claiming progress or setbacks depending on the latest data.