Record-Breaking Recruitment: Border Patrol Sees Unprecedented Surge in Applicants

Mirrored patrols continue along the southern border in the Tucson Sector

The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has experienced its most successful four-month recruitment stretch in agency history, receiving 34,650 applications between January and April 2025—a 44% increase over the same period in 2024. Officials say the historic surge in applicants is no coincidence and reflects the renewed national commitment to border security. January received the highest number of USBP applicants ever recorded since the agency’s founding. 

Members of Mexico’s National Guard destroy a scout site south of the border from the Tucson Sector

While recruitment numbers reach historic highs, operational outcomes are also showing remarkable improvement—particularly in the Tucson Sector, which has reported another record-low month in migrant encounters. Encounters at the border in this sector dropped nearly 30,000 in April alone, representing a nearly 96% reduction compared to last year. Over the past four months, encounters have averaged a 95% reduction, a shift officials attribute to strong enforcement posture and increased manpower. The sector had previously been one of the busiest in the nation.

Recruitment gains are being driven not only by the national policy shift but also by enhanced outreach, targeted hiring incentives, and growing interest among veterans and law enforcement professionals who bring mission-ready experience to the frontline.

Outbound enforcement, Nogales, Arizona: Photo by Jerry Glasser USCBP

Meanwhile, the agency’s focus on southbound enforcement efforts is also yielding significant results. At a press event earlier this month in Nogales, Arizona, federal officials displayed a cache of seized weapons, grenades, and ammunition. Director of Field Operations Guadalupe Ramirez (Tucson Field Office), HSI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede (SAC Arizona), ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber (Phoenix Field Division), and U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine (District of Arizona) jointly announced the results of recent investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement operations.

Outbound enforcement, Nogales, Arizona: Photo by Jerry Glasser USCBP

The seizures were the result of coordinated outbound operations targeting southbound vehicular, pedestrian, and commercial traffic at Southwest Border ports of entry. CBP officers utilized advanced technology—including nonintrusive imaging systems and currency-sniffing canines—alongside traditional skills and experience. These operations were supported by Border Patrol agents and state and local law enforcement, serving as a powerful force multiplier.

These enforcement efforts have not only disrupted illegal firearms trafficking but also thwarted child abductions, intercepted fugitives, interdicted narcotics and precursor drugs, and uncovered violations ranging from currency smuggling to immigration fraud and trade crimes.