Border Crossing Dynamics Change in January, Shifting from Texas to Arizona and California

Members of the Texas Army National Guard extend razor wire to inhibit migrants from crossing, as seen from Ciudad Juárez. (Credit: Reuters)

Unlawful border crossings into the U.S. have dropped and shifted drastically in January. According to government figures reported by CBS, migrant encounters have largely concentrated in Arizona and California while decreasing in Texas.

Overall, illegal crossings in the southern border went from a quarter million in December to 125,000 in January, according to preliminary data from the Border Patrol. The overall figure could be partially explained by seasonal factors, as lower winter temperatures can deter migrants from making the trip up north.