Yuma Sector Border Patrol officials said Friday they have seen a steady and consistent decrease in the number of migrant apprehensions in the later months of 2019.
Where they once saw more than 400 migrants a day and up to 14,000 in one month, that number is down to about about 40 people a day and about 700 apprehended in November.
Agent Jose Garibay told KAWC that the people apprehended has shifted away from Latin American family units and unaccompanied children to single adults from China, Sri Lanka, Brazil and other countries.
“The crisis is not over," Garibay said. "We are experiencing a lull. It’s important for the public to know the factors that bring migrants here are not closed. It’s only because of our efforts and those of the Mexican government that we have been able to get them to more manageable levels.”
Garibay said border fencing construction continues with work in the Barry Goldwater Range expected to begin in early 2020.