Terror-related encounters at US southern border ports rise sharply in FY 2026

The Center for Immigration Studies released a study indicating that Customs and Border Protection documented more than 11,250 terrorism-related encounters at Southwest ports of entry during the first 11 months of fiscal year 2026. This figure dwarfs the roughly 3,700 encounters reported in FY 2025 and the 103 recorded in FY 2021. Andrew Arthur, a fellow in law and policy at the center, said the surge reflects a secure border that forces bad actors to use official ports where they can be intercepted.

The analysis also highlights that illegal entries have fallen to historic lows, reinforcing the shift toward port-based attempts. In contrast, CBP logged only 105 terror-related encounters along the unmonitored portion of the Southwest border. Border Patrol apprehensions are projected at about 98,000 for FY 2026, a steep decline from the 2.045 million recorded in FY 2023.