Border Patrol officials recently released information on apprehensions of undocumented immigrants during the first ten months of fiscal year 2002 (October 2001 through July 2002). The numbers show that the trend over recent years of decreasing numbers of apprehensions will most likely continue this year. Apprehensions were down about 27 percent from the previous year, reflecting a variety of causes, including tougher border enforcement and a weaker US economy.
During the ten-month period, 799,281 undocumented migrants were apprehended, compared to about 1.1 million during the same period in the prior year. While not directly related to the number of people who enter the US unlawfully, apprehensions are viewed as an indication of the number of people attempting such an entry. One factor that indicates that this is a real downward trend in the number of undocumented migrants is that every Border Patrol sector along the Mexican border reported decreased numbers of apprehensions. During the late 1990s, apprehensions would drop in one sector, but dramatically increase in others as migrants moved to less heavily defended areas.
Some areas along the Canadian border did see an increase in the number of apprehensions, most likely as a result of increased numbers of agents stationed there after the terrorist attacks last September.
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