While arrests along the Southwest border have dropped to historic lows, Maine is seeing record-high apprehensions along the northern border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Border Patrol agents in Maine recorded their highest number of arrests in 24 years this April. The agency reported detaining 113 migrants from 16 different countries.
In the Houlton Sector, which borders Woodstock, Canada, Border Patrol agents partnered with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations to transfer 29 apprehended individuals from Portland, Maine, to other locations across the country on May 11 for continued processing.
![Arrests conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol in Maine. (CBP graphic)]
“Here in Maine, Border Patrol Agents are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep our border secure. If you attempt to cross the border illegally, you will be apprehended. If you are present in the United States without a legal status, you will be detained and removed in accordance with all applicable immigration laws,” said Houlton Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Craig Shepley.
Agents Face Ongoing Risks Despite Fewer Southwest Encounters, Sector Chief Says
Shepley also urged individuals in the country unlawfully to self-deport using the CBP One app available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
In April, encounters along the Southwest border plummeted 93% compared to April 2024. The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas reported just 1,342 arrests—an 84% decrease year over year, CBP data shows.
El Paso led all Southwest border sectors in April with 1,959 arrests. This sector spans from the New Mexico-Arizona border to Hudspeth County, Texas.
