A Border Patrol agent drives down to the beach. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)
The U.S. Border Patrol Monday announced a significant reduction in illegal border crossings in the San Diego Sector, but an increase in narcotics seizures.
“Through the first two months of the new fiscal year, the sector has recorded 1,793 apprehensions,” according to a USBP statement. “This represents a 93% decrease over the same period a year ago, when the sector had already recorded 24,735 apprehensions. This low a level of activity has not been seen in the sector since the 1960s.”
Chief Border Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre attributed the decrease to a combination of factors, most notably tougher immigration and border security policies.
“By no longer releasing people into the U.S, we have removed the incentive for those considering illegal entry via smuggling routes,” De La Torre said. “We no longer have people illegally entering and surrendering to agents, expecting to be released, which allows Border Patrol agents to return to patrol and interdiction efforts rather than processing and releasing hundreds of illegal aliens a day. This significant reduction in illegal border crossings underscores the value of strong border security policy and a whole-of-government approach.”
De La Torre also cited stepped-up deportation efforts nationally.
“Less money is going to the criminal organizations that facilitate human smuggling and generate violence in Mexico,” he said. “We are now seeing far fewer people being exploited and endangering their lives by using criminal smuggling networks to illegally enter the country.”
De La Torre said the region is also off to a strong start in narcotics seizures.
“San Diego Sector had a record-breaking year in fiscal 2025, seizing 11,311 pounds of methamphetamine,” he said. “It looks to continue that momentum, having already taken 970 pounds of methamphetamine, 555 pounds of cocaine and 113 pounds of fentanyl off the streets in the first two months of fiscal 2026.”
To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, call 911 or the San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900.
A Border Patrol SUV. (File photo courtesy of OnScene.TV
Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle this week that contained nearly 17 pounds of fentanyl, authorities said, and took the driver into custody.
It’s the latest drug seizure in the agency’s San Diego Sector, where agents have confiscated 184 pounds of narcotics since Dec. 4.
Agents from the San Clemente Station on Tuesday conducted a vehicle stop on northbound Interstate 5, the Border Patrol said in a news release. A search under the front seats uncovered seven packages of fentanyl weighing 16.75 pounds, which had an estimated street value of $64,600.
In three other cases this month out of the San Clemente Station, agents made I-5 stops and seized more fentanyl –12.24 pounds, with an estimated street value of $47,175; 25.79 pounds, valued at $99,450 and 23.48 pounds, valued at $90,525.
In the second incident, they also found 31 pounds of heroin.
In an additional stop, in Murrieta, agents searched a vehicle on Interstate 15 and discovered 75 pounds of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.
In each case, authorities took the driver into custody. Three are U.S. citizens, one is a permanent legal resident and another, a Mexican citizen.
“The significant quantity of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics that our agents have seized in the past two weeks represents millions of lethal doses,” said San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre. “Whether it is shutting down human traffickers or preventing deadly drugs from entering our country, border security saves lives.”
U.S. Border Patrol began making rounds in Charlotte on Saturday morning.
This follows recent Border Patrol activity in Chicago that made headlines, with some reports alleging agents violated people’s rights.
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Many Latin-owned restaurants in Charlotte have temporarily closed their doors as the U.S. Border Patrol has roamed the streets for days, making more than 250 arrests. Now, one is planning to reopen — with a few changes meant to help protect employees and customers.
Tacos El Nevado, a Mexican restaurant with Charlotte locations on Central and South avenues, is hoping to welcome patrons back as early as Friday.
Christopher Santiago, a family member of the restaurant owners, spoke with CharlotteFive outside the Central Avenue location, saying: “I know things are a little tough right now, especially with my Hispanic community, but just in general everywhere right now.
“We’re facing a hardship, and I just want to let you guys know that we’ll be opening our doors soon. We just need to make sure that the way we do it, it’s safe for our community. So if you see changes in the business, it’s due to that reason,” he said.
Chris Santiago, general manager of the South End location of Tacos El Nevado, stands in front of the Central Avenue location. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Santago asked customers to show support and understanding, noting that the U.S. Border Patrol presence in Charlotte is “affecting everybody.”
“So if you aren’t aware, well, this is my voice to you, to raise that awareness and to, you know, give us a little bit of your support in any way possible — not just here, but in all the other Hispanic businesses that are on this area, around any location at this point — because it’s affecting the whole United States.”
When Tacos El Nevado reopens, a worker will stay at the door, screening people coming inside.
“So, yeah, our doors will be locked. Door Dash offers are still going to be open, but we will be very thorough checking who’s coming in, more than anything. Just be patient and understanding about that situation,” Santiago said.
“We always have a smile on our faces, no matter the hardship. Just come in, show support, and thank you guys for everything. Appreciate that.”
Alex Cason contributed reporting.
Chris Santiago, a family member of the Tacos El Nevado owners, stands in front of the Central Avenue location. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Alex Cason is a photojournalist whose primary focus is to let stories unfold through the visual mediums of photography and videography. Cason’s dynamic interpretations are woven into the fabric of a city that is bustling with growth, challenged daily with racial and socioeconomic equality, and overflowing with art and creativity. Crafting a story with integrity for a variety of demographics in a matter of moments is the broad stroke of his character. His specialties include portraiture work, sports, editorial, architectural, creative, government, street and event coverage. Support my work with a digital subscription
Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits. Support my work with a digital subscription
Gregory Bovino, the chief U.S. Border Patrol agent, center, leads several federal agents toward protesters as dozens of protesters clash with federal agents and Illinois State police near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 3, 2025.
Antonio Perez
TNS
U.S. Border patrol could soon be on their way to Charlotte, according to reports from CBS News andCNN.
U.S. officials told the national outlets Monday that some border patrol agents could be leaving their monthslong stay in Chicago as early as this week and shift to Charlotte and New Orleans for operations that are expected to begin this month.
The U.S. officials stressed that plans on these operations are still being finalized. The U.S. Border Patrol has been sent to cities as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
U.S. Border Patrol acts as the law enforcement arm of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The organization is deputized with protecting the country’s borders from smugglers, traffickers and illegal crossers.
Usually their focus is on the borders between the United States and Mexico and United States and Canada. While they have arrested people in U.S. cities in the past, operations by the U.S. Border Patrol away from these designated borders is not common, according to the New York Times.
Most recently, U.S. Border Patrol had more than 200 agents stationed in Chicago, taking a lead role in the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Since September, border patrol agents have arrested 1,500 people, according to CBS News.
According to news reports, federal agents roamed the city and suburbs questioning people and used tear gas on residents and local police.
“Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of homeland security, told McClatchy on Tuesday.
Reaction in North Carolina
Carolina Migrant Network, which operates the Charlotte area’s only ICE hotline, said it is preparing for more possible ICE activity amid reports of federal agents being diverted to the region, according to co-director and immigration attorney Becca O’Neill.
The hotline alerts the community to any activity after trained volunteers confirm whether reported immigration actions involve ICE or another law enforcement group. The network also employs two full-time attorneys who represent people detained by federal authorities, though O’Neill said demand for that help already exceeds capacity. She said she hopes North Carolinians will show solidarity to those targeted by ICE and protest any efforts to detain immigrants.
“As someone who represents individuals detained by DHS, I implore those in our community who aren’t targeted by ICE to consider the daily fear, anxiety, and terror that grips many non-citizens,” O’Neill said. “Charlotte is my hometown … and we believe Charlotte will rise to this occasion and send a message that we protect each other.”
Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden issued a statement Tuesday evening that said no federal officials, formally or informally, had updated him or CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings about any plan for a federal immigration operation. He said federal officials should communicate with local officials to help ensure safety.
Local immigration attorney Andrés López was hopeful the news was not true.
“It’s almost like the wild, wild west. That’s what I’ve been observing, as far as what’s been going on in Chicago or Los Angeles. The thought of that coming to Charlotte is upsetting and disconcerting,” he said.
President Donald Trump campaigned on getting rid of criminals, López said, and pulled a “bait and switch” that was seen in Chicago and elsewhere as ordinary people were rounded up.
“We shouldn’t be going after grandmothers who make tortillas. We shouldn’t be pursuing the father who is helping build Charlotte with construction,” he said.
The Trump administration has used federal agencies as part of his immigration and crime crackdowns in other places across the U.S. In an attempt to steady protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, Trump federalized the California National Guard and sent members of the U.S. Marine Corps, according to NPR. In September, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard was illegal.
There, federal agents with tactical gear, armored trucks and rifles clashed with protestors, according to the New York Times. Officers used pepper spray and less-than-lethal projectiles on protestors.
Washington correspondent Danielle Battaglia and Charlotte Observer reporters Nora O’Neill and Ryan Oehrli contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM.
Briah Lumpkins is the emerging news reporter for the Charlotte Observer. In this role, she finds important and impactful enterprise stories impacting the Charlotte-metro region. Most previously, Briah spent time in Houston, Texas covering underrepresented suburban communities at the Houston Landing. Prior to that, she spent a year at the Charleston Post and Courier for an investigative reporting fellowship through FRONTLINE PBS. When she’s not at work you can find her binge reading on her kindle or at the movie theater watching the latest premieres. Support my work with a digital subscription
Illinois state Representative Hoan Huynh, a Democrat serving Chicago, said federal agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped him on Tuesday morning in the Albany Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side.
The incident occurred on October 21 around 11:30 a.m. near Montrose and Kimball avenues, where the agents blocked his vehicle while he and his staff were following an unmarked car they believed contained CBP personnel, his campaign said in a news release.
A federal agent pointed a gun at the state representative as he and his staff were alerting North Side residents to reported immigration enforcement activity, according to Huynh.
“This was federal agents using violent intimidation trying to silence us,” Huynh, who is running in Illinois’ 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Why It Matters
Chicago has become a key battleground city amid ramped-up immigration enforcement as federal authorities under the Trump administration conduct Operation Midway Blitz. The initiative has involved increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity across the city, including arrests and targeted actions in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.
Critics say the operations have heightened fear among residents and strained community relations, while federal officials argue that the measures are necessary to enforce immigration laws and detain individuals with criminal records.
What To Know
Huynh’s campaign said six armed CBP agents surrounded the front and rear of his car and approached. The state representative’s team said the stop was related to his efforts to monitor and warn residents about alleged enforcement operations by ICE and CBP in the community.
Huynh, a Democrat representing the Illinois House’s 13th District, said he had received a tip that federal agents were detaining individuals on foot in the neighborhood and was attempting to alert residents to their rights.
“They tried to bash in our car’s windows while we were doing Know Your Rights patrol in the community,” Huynh said in a post on Facebook. “Thankfully, we weren’t physically harmed, but this was federal agents using violent intimidation trying to silence us. If they can pull a gun on an elected official, there’s no end to the terror they will continue reigning on our communities. We must fight back against this fascist regime that has no place in America.”
Huynh is a Vietnamese American who came to the United States as a refugee when he was a child. He is the first Vietnamese American elected to the Illinois General Assembly.
Tuesday’s encounter marks the latest clash between local officials and federal immigration agents, part of a broader pattern of tense interactions that have emerged during the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.
What People Are Saying
State Representative Hoan Huynh wrote on X: “We must fight back against this fascist regime that has no place in America.”
What Happens Next
Immigration authorities have not issued a public statement or provided details about the encounter. The national debate continues over immigration enforcement practices and the role of community groups that monitor federal activity in local neighborhoods.
