The chief of the U.S. Border Patrol for the Yuma Sector said he does not anticipate a spike in migrant apprehensions in the coming months.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol officials met with reporters Friday following the release of numbers of migrant apprehensions for the 2019 fiscal year.
In previous years, the largest group of migrants were single adults. However, last year saw a 257 percent increase in the number of family units from about 14,500 the previous year to just under 52,000 last year.
Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Porvaznik said the number of apprehensions has continued to decrease significantly in recent months. Porvaznik said that is due mostly to both the US’ Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as Remain in Mexico, as well as increased security at Mexico’s southern border.
“I don’t think that as long as Mexico continues their efforts and the efforts that we have in place with CBP and DHS that we will see a significant increase however that can change at any time,” Porvaznik said.
Porvaznik spoke in front of a mile-long stretch of border fencing west of Yuma.
