DETROIT— In Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), CBP’s mission included protecting the American public health in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prevent further introduction into the United States. The U.S. Border Patrol’s Detroit Sector continued to protect the communities where we live and work. A critical counter-COVID policy was limiting non-essential travel across our borders that began in March. Our agents’ continued vigilance during maritime patrols helped to enforce the restriction on cross-border activity.
Detroit Sector made 757 total apprehensions during FY20. Apprehensions for the Sector were down 57% from FY 2019, reflecting an overall decline in arrests nationwide. Agents arrested 46 criminal aliens, which was 10% of the removable individuals encountered. This is in line with recent history locally, where the percentage of subjects identified as criminal aliens has been at 10% every year since 2017. Detroit Sector agents apprehended subjects from 45 countries, and have encountered citizens from 133 different countries since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2014.
Agents assisted in seven rescues during the year, including multiple suicidal subjects and boaters in distress on the lakes and rivers in our area of responsibility. During the fiscal year, Border Patrol agents seized 135 firearms and 91 conveyances, and also made 155 currency seizures totaling approximately $10 million. Additionally, 19 canine teams are deployed throughout the sector. During FY20, these teams seized $5,692,501 in contaminated currency and over 2,000 pounds of narcotics. Detroit Sector is home to the nationally recognized “Top Dog”, K-9 Alex, who located more than $3 million in contaminated currency.
“I am proud of the way our agents and support staff have adapted to the global COVID-19 outbreak,” noted Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison. “The apprehensions and seizures we made this year demonstrate our commitment to continuing to fulfill the CBP mission of protecting America’s borders, no matter what challenges we face.”