San Diego Border Patrol Sector Reports Sharp Drop in Apprehensions at Start of Fiscal Year 2026

San Diego, California; December 24th, 2025

Border enforcement activity along the southern California coastline and inland corridors showed a marked shift at the opening of the new fiscal year, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a dramatic reduction in migrant apprehensions within the San Diego Sector during the early weeks of fiscal year 2026.

According to the official CBP release, Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector recorded significantly fewer apprehensions compared with the same period in prior fiscal years. The reduction was described as immediate and sustained, setting a different operational tempo as the fiscal year began on October 1st.

CBP stated that the San Diego Sector, which spans coastal, urban, and mountainous terrain along the U.S.–Mexico border, has historically faced fluctuating migration patterns influenced by geography, enforcement posture, and broader regional conditions. The early fiscal year figures, however, reflected a notable departure from recent trends.

Sector leadership attributed the reduction to a combination of enforcement measures, operational adjustments, and deterrence effects. While the release did not detail specific tactics, CBP emphasized that consistent enforcement and coordination remain central to border security outcomes. The agency framed the early numbers as an indicator rather than a conclusion, noting that migration patterns can shift rapidly.

The San Diego Sector’s area of responsibility includes one of the most complex border environments in the country, encompassing remote wilderness areas as well as dense population centers. CBP noted that reduced apprehension numbers allow agents to redirect attention toward other mission requirements, including surveillance, humanitarian response readiness, and counter-smuggling operations.

CBP officials emphasized that fiscal year data is tracked continuously and reviewed in context, cautioning that early reductions do not eliminate the need for sustained vigilance. Border conditions, the agency stated, are shaped by external factors beyond immediate control, including economic conditions and enforcement policies on both sides of the border.

The announcement did not project whether the trend will continue through the remainder of fiscal year 2026. Instead, CBP described the figures as an early snapshot that will inform ongoing assessment and planning as the year progresses.

Issued directly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the release documents the initial enforcement landscape facing the San Diego Sector at the start of the new fiscal year. It records a moment of measurable change, while underscoring that border operations remain dynamic rather than static.

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Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

• U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, official release reporting reduced apprehensions in the San Diego Sector at the start of fiscal year 2026, December 2025