CBP hits record with 21,471 border agents as drug seizures rise at El Paso crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that the Border Patrol now has 21,471 agents on the front line, the highest number in the agency’s 102‑year history. The increase is part of an effort under the Trump administration to reach a target of 25,000 agents and is presented as a success of recent recruitment and retention campaigns.

At the same time, officials detained a woman from New Mexico attempting to cross the international Paso del Norte bridge with more than 25 kg of methamphetamine valued at over half a million dollars. The seizure highlights a sharp rise in methamphetamine interdictions, with CBP reporting a 67.75% increase in total meth seizures for the fiscal year.

Both developments underscore the heightened focus on border security and drug enforcement along the U.S.–Mexico frontier.