In fiscal year 2024, more than half a million illegal border crossings were reported in California, according to recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Specifically, CBP recorded approximately 525,000 illegal entries into California, a figure that does not include individuals who crossed the border undetected, known as “gotaways.” This number also excludes those permitted entry under the Biden-Harris administration’s various parole programs, which critics argue have significantly affected the state’s already strained border system.
California, though it has the smallest international border with Mexico of the four U.S. states along the southwest border, has nonetheless seen an unprecedented number of crossings. The state shares 137 miles of border with Mexico, divided between the El Centro and San Diego CBP sectors.
These two sectors cover vast areas, with San Diego Sector spanning over 57,000 square miles, including coastal areas stretching up to Oregon. The San Diego Sector, which sees the majority of California’s illegal entries, reported the largest share of the crossings, with 324,260 apprehensions, marking a 40% increase from the previous year’s 230,941.
The spike in border crossings comes as Border Patrol agents in both sectors are stretched thin, facing increased challenges due to what critics call “open border policies.” Former San Diego Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke has testified before Congress on the effects these policies have had on border enforcement. He described the challenges agents face, including closures of key checkpoints due to resource reallocation toward areas of higher crossing activity. During a peak in illegal entries in mid-2022, Heitke noted, Border Patrol resources were so stretched that agents had to leave large sections of the border unmonitored.
Heitke also testified about what he termed alarming developments, including an increase in “special interest aliens” from countries considered national security risks. The influx of unaccompanied minors is also a major concern, with many children reportedly drugged or trafficked across the border by unrelated smugglers. Alongside these challenges, law enforcement officers in California have also encountered record amounts of fentanyl, seizing quantities of the potent synthetic opioid that authorities estimate could kill billions if distributed widely.
California’s other major border sector, El Centro, saw 17,484 apprehensions in fiscal 2024. Located in Southern California’s Imperial Valley, El Centro Sector covers 71 miles of remote desert and mountainous terrain, where temperatures often exceed 120 degrees in summer. Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino has raised concerns about unaccompanied minors rescued by his agents, describing the disturbing lengths smugglers go to when transporting children. Smugglers often use sleep aids to keep children quiet, and the harsh conditions frequently put their lives at risk.
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