What Border Patrol Is
U.S. Border Patrol is a component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is itself a component of the Department of Homeland Security. Border Patrol’s specific mission is detecting and preventing illegal entry between ports of entry, the areas between official crossing points. CBP’s Office of Field Operations handles enforcement at official ports of entry.
Border Patrol operates in 20 sectors across the southern border, northern border, and coastal areas. The Tucson Sector and the Rio Grande Valley Sector in Texas historically handle the highest crossing volumes on the southern border. The San Diego Sector has historically been among the most heavily fortified.
What Agents Actually Do
Border Patrol agents perform four primary functions: detection (identifying illegal crossings through surveillance technology, sensors, and patrol), apprehension (physically encountering and detaining individuals who crossed illegally), processing (documenting apprehended individuals, making custody determinations, and initiating the relevant legal process), and transportation (moving detained individuals to holding facilities and coordinating with ICE for longer-term detention or removal).
The Border Patrol agent’s job changed significantly between 2020 and 2024 as crossing volumes reached historic highs. At peak crossing periods, agents in high-volume sectors spent the majority of their shift processing, documenting and transporting individuals, rather than patrolling. That shift reduced detection capacity in the sectors with the highest crossing rates.
What Changed Under the Second Trump Term
The second Trump administration’s enforcement priorities have measurably affected Border Patrol operations in Arizona sectors, including those adjacent to Maricopa County. The reinstatement of Migrant Protection Protocols (Remain in Mexico), the expansion of expedited removal authority, and increased asylum claim documentation requirements have shifted the processing workflow at border sectors.
The operational result in Arizona border sectors: crossing volumes have declined significantly from their 2023-2024 peak. Agents in Tucson Sector have reported that patrol functions have resumed as the dominant daily activity, replacing the processing-heavy operations of the peak period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Border Patrol agents are there?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection employs over 19,000 Border Patrol agents, organized across 20 sectors covering the southern border, northern border, and coastal areas.
What is the difference between Border Patrol and CBP?
CBP (Customs and Border Protection) is the parent agency. Border Patrol handles enforcement between ports of entry. CBP’s Office of Field Operations handles enforcement at official crossing points.
What does an 'encounter' mean in Border Patrol statistics?
A CBP ‘encounter’ is any interaction between a Border Patrol agent and an individual attempting to cross illegally. One person may generate multiple encounters if they make multiple crossing attempts.
