GAO Flags Northern Border Gaps as Crossings Fall Under Trump

US Customs and Border Protection faces staffing and technology gaps along the northern border, a government watchdog says, even as migrant crossings there have dropped sharply from recent highs.

The Government Accountability Office review comes after border security dominated political debate during Joe Biden’s administration, when nationwide migrant encounters exceeded 2 million annually in fiscal 2022 and 2023, according to CBP data. While activity was concentrated at the southwest border, the Border Patrol reported around 24,000 apprehensions along the northern border in fiscal 2024, up from around 6,000 in fiscal 2019.

Northern land border apprehensions fell below 8,000 in fiscal ...