U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released operational statistics for December 2024.

The update shows that there has been a decrease in unlawful border crossings, a 60% decrease in encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border from May to December. CBP said that encounters between ports of entry in November and December. are at the lowest level since August of 2020. In December, the U. S. Border Patrol recorded approximately 47,300 encounters between the southwestern ports of entry. That is 81% lower than December of 2023.

CBP seized 1,148 pounds of fentanyl in December. Nationwide in December, seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana ( combined by weight ) increased 2.7% from November. Seizures of cocaine increased by 296% and heroin increased 341% compared to November. 

In December, the U. S. Border Patrol conducted 402 rescues.