Travelers frequenting Tubac and Arivaca might observe unmanned U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints due to increased apprehensions, leading the Tucson Sector to reallocate its resources.

John Mennell, a supervisory public affairs specialist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, highlighted a surge in apprehensions over the past nine months, with a recent spike. Consequently, officials have shut down several checkpoints and non-enforcement tasks across Southern Arizona.

While Mennell didn’t address the Tubac and Arivaca checkpoints directly, reports indicate a shortage of personnel at the Tubac checkpoint. An Arivaca resident informed the Green Valley News that the Arivaca Road checkpoint has also been unstaffed recently.

According to Mennell, the closed checkpoints may reopen based on “activity levels,” although he refrained from providing more specifics.

Regarding agent deployment, Mennell didn’t disclose details but mentioned a pause in local social media accounts within the 262-mile border-spanning sector. This measure aims to redirect personnel and resources efficiently.

Apprehensions in the Tucson Sector have notably surged over the last three years. In fiscal year 2021, over 191,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended, increasing to 252,000 in FY22. The numbers soared to 373,625 in FY23, which ended on Sept. 30.

The first month of FY24 saw over 55,000 illegal entrants, marking a staggering 140 percent rise from the previous year, the sector’s highest recorded monthly number.

The Border Patrol attributes the fluctuation in migrant arrivals, in part, to seasonal patterns. Additionally, Mennell highlighted cartels exploiting vulnerable migrants through misinformation.

He mentioned cartels persuading migrants from countries beyond Mexico and South America to reach the border by covering their expenses, later coercing them to repay the debt upon entering the U.S.

CBP’s Office of Field Operations is aiding multiple Border Patrol sectors in processing migrants at different facilities.

Travelers are cautioned by the Border Patrol to anticipate longer-than-usual crossing times and advised to plan accordingly.