see also: in April 2007 News Releases:   CBP Officers at O’Hare Seize $6.7 Million Worth of Cocaine   CBP Officers Seize $8 Million Worth of Marijuana at Calexico Port   CBP Border Patrol Rescues Three   U.S., Mexican Officials Announce Grand Opening Of Brownsville SENTRI Lane   Funcionarios de Estados Unidos y México Anuncian Inauguración del Carril SENTRI en Brownsville   First Mobile Sensor Tower Arrives In Arizona   Frequent Traveler Charged with Marijuana Smuggling ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington, D.C. — Apprehensions through the end of the second quarter are down 30 percent compared to the same period during the previous fiscal year, continuing a trend in the overall decline of border apprehensions between ports of entry.

From Oct. 1 through March 31, CBP Border Patrol agents made 418,184 arrests along the nation’s southern border compared to 594,142 apprehensions during the same period last year, with all southern border sectors experiencing declines in apprehensions. The Del Rio, Texas and Yuma, Ariz., sectors experienced the greatest declines, with a decrease of 68 percent in Yuma (24,726 apprehensions) and a decrease of 57 percent in Del Rio (12,151 apprehensions).

Apprehensions of other than Mexico nationals declined 55 percent along the southern border, which totaled 25,269 through the second quarter 2007. The decrease in other-than-Mexican apprehensions reduces the time agents spend transporting and processing and increases time spent patrolling the border.

Under the Secure Border Initiative, CBP continues to strengthen border security efforts through the deployment and integration of tactical infrastructure, proven technology and additional personnel. Other significant efforts include the expansion of expedited removal, the deployment of National Guard personnel through Operation Jump Start, targeted operations within the Sectors and strong federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partnerships.

Additionally, Border Patrol agents have seized more than 1 million pounds of marijuana (a 31 percent increase) and 7,275 pounds of cocaine (a 122 percent increase) compared to same period in fiscal year 2006. Agents in the Tucson, Ariz., sector accounted for nearly 50 percent of the southern border marijuana seizures with 498,815 pounds and the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, sector accounted for 55 percent of the cocaine seizures with 4,021 pounds. The total combined estimated value of the narcotics seized along the southern border is more than $1.03 billion.

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.