U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published its operational statistics for October 2024, detailing a range of enforcement activities and trends. Troy A. Miller, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, stated that CBP personnel "continue to work tirelessly to protect the homeland" by enhancing enforcement efforts to keep border encounters low and dismantling operations of transnational criminal organizations.
The report highlights a significant decrease in unlawful border crossings following the June 4 Presidential Proclamation on Securing the Border and accompanying Interim Final Rule, which was finalized on September 30. Since these measures were implemented, there has been a more than 55% reduction in encounters along the southwest border through November 19.
Additionally, the actions have resulted in an increase in migrant removals from the U.S., with DHS doubling the percentage of noncitizens processed for expedited removal since June 5. The number of individuals released pending immigration court proceedings is down by 67%. From June through October, over 206,000 individuals were removed or returned to more than 155 countries.
In fiscal year 2024, DHS completed over 700,000 removals and returns, marking a record since 2010. Encounters at ports of entry on the northern border also saw a reduction of more than 64% from June to October due to expanded enforcement efforts.
October's statistics showed approximately 56,530 encounters along the southwest border between ports of entry. While this marked a slight rise from September figures, it continued an overall downward trend since new asylum restrictions were imposed in June.
CBP has focused efforts on preventing illicit drug trafficking. In recent years, USBP expanded its capacity for aid and rescue operations through initiatives like the Missing Migrant Program established in 2017. In October alone, Border Patrol conducted 422 rescues.
The CBP One™ mobile application continues to facilitate lawful processing at ports of entry while discouraging illegal crossings. Over October, more than 44,900 individuals used CBP One™ for advance scheduling at ports of entry.
Efforts under various parole processes for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) have resulted in substantial lawful arrivals and decreased irregular entries by CHNV nationals by 98%.
CBP's enhanced capabilities allow it to intercept illicit drugs before they reach communities. Nearly two billion lethal doses worth of fentanyl were seized over two fiscal years. In October alone, CBP seized over two thousand pounds of fentanyl as part of broader drug interdiction efforts.
Travel processing efficiency improved with mobile apps like Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control (MPC). Meanwhile, trade via ocean accounted for a large portion of imports valued at $308 billion with estimated duties exceeding $7 billion collected.
CBP continues addressing forced labor concerns; in October it stopped shipments worth millions based on suspected forced labor use from regions like Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. It also seized counterfeit goods valued at hundreds of millions during this period while conducting audits that revealed additional duties owed to U.S government coffers totaling several million dollars.
Overall developments underscore ongoing collaborations between CBP stakeholders aimed at ensuring safety across travel trade landscapes amid evolving migration trends worldwide."
