The estimated population of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. stands at around ** million people. Although the number has stabilized, the United States has seen a spike in migrant encounters in the last few years, with over * million cases registered by the U.S. Border Patrol in 2023. This is a slight decrease from the previous year, when there were over *** million cases registered. Due to its proximity and shared border, Mexico remains the leading country of origin for most undocumented immigrants in the U.S., with California and Texas being home to the majority.

Immigration and political division

Despite the majority of the population having immigrant roots, the topic of immigration in the U.S. remains one of the country’s longest-standing political debates. Support among Republicans for restrictive immigration has grown alongside Democratic support for open immigration. This growing divide has deepened the polarization between the two major political parties, stifling constructive dialogue and impeding meaningful reform efforts and as a result, has led to dissatisfaction from all sides. In addition to general immigration policy, feelings toward illegal immigration in the U.S. also vary widely. For some, it's seen as a significant threat to national security, cultural identity, and economic stability. This perspective often aligns with support for stringent measures like Trump's proposed border wall and increased enforcement efforts. On the other hand, there are those who are more sympathetic toward undocumented immigrants, as demonstrated by support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Border Crossing Data provide summary statistics for inbound crossings at the U.S.-Canada and the U.S.-Mexico border at the port level. Data are available for trucks, trains, containers, buses, personal vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians. Border crossing data are collected at ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The data reflect the number of vehicles, containers, passengers or pedestrians entering the United States. CBP does not collect comparable data on outbound crossings. Users seeking data on outbound counts may therefore want to review data from individual bridge operators, border state governments, or the Mexican and Canadian governments.

Number of personal vehicle passengers, train passengers, bus passengers, and pedestrians entering the United States from Mexico. The Bureau of Transportation of Statistics releases incoming border crossing statistics using data collected at ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Number of trucks entering the United States from Mexico. The Bureau of Transportation of Statistics releases incoming border crossing statistics using data collected at ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This dataset contains official U.S. Border Crossing Entry Data collected by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It includes over 400,000 records of traffic activity across 120+ land ports along the U.S.–Canada and U.S.–Mexico borders. Each row provides the port name, state, border type, date, crossing measure (such as trucks, buses, pedestrians, trains, and containers), and the total number of recorded crossings. This dataset is ideal for time-series analysis, forecasting, transportation studies, and visualization projects.

The Border Crossing Entry Data, provided by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), offers summary statistics on inbound crossings at U.S. land ports along the 🇨🇦 Canada-U.S. and 🇲🇽 Mexico-U.S. borders. The dataset includes counts for 🚛 trucks, 🚂 trains, 📦 containers, 🚌 buses, 🚗 personal vehicles, 🧍 passengers, and 🚶 pedestrians entering the United States.

📊 Data Collection & Coverage 🔹 Originator: 🛂 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 🔹 Scope: Captures the number of vehicles, containers, passengers, or pedestrians entering the U.S. 🔹 Limitations:

🚫 CBP does not collect data on outbound crossings. 🔍 Users seeking outbound data should refer to bridge operators, border state governments, or the Mexican and Canadian governments. 🔹 Level of Reporting: Data is reported at the 📍 port level, aggregating multiple entry points within each port. 🔓 Access & Use ✅ Public Availability: This dataset is open for public access and use. 📝 License: No license information was provided. However, if created by a U.S. government officer or employee, it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

🔗 Source & More Information: 📂 Data.gov - Border Crossing Entry Data

Since 2014, the most common known cause of death for migrants in transit in the Americas has been drowning, followed by vehicle accidents or deaths liked to hazardous transport. The U.S.-Mexico border is the most deadly route, as ***** migrants have been recorded dead or missing trying to cross it. The real figures of deaths and missing people are expected to be considerably higher, as the source warns about the difficulties and challenges of collecting this data, especially in Mexico, the Darien Gap, and maritime routes.

This dataset from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) provides detailed inbound border crossing data at the port level for the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders. It includes statistics for trucks, trains, containers, buses, personal vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians. The data, collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), reflect the number of entries into the United States but do not include outbound crossings. Users interested in outbound data may need to consult individual bridge operators, border state governments, or the Canadian and Mexican authorities. This dataset is a valuable resource for transportation studies and border activity analysis.

Since 2014, at least ***** persons have lost their lives or gone missing in the Americas trying to migrate. The figures are presumed to be considerably higher since, as the source warns, collecting this sort of data is particularly challenging, especially in Mexico, the Darien Gap, and maritime routes. 2022 has been the deadliest year to date, since more than ************ migrants have been reported as dead or missing. The U.S.-Mexico border crossing is the migration route in the Americas with most reported deaths or missing since 2014.

Border Crossing Ports are points of entry for land modes along the U.S. - Canadian and U.S.- Mexcian borders. The ports of entry are located in 15 states along the U.S. borders. The nominal scale of the data set is 1:1000,000 with a maximal positional error of +- 10 meters.

The data release records observations of insect crossing in the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge along the U.S.-Mexico Border from 20230307 to 20240125. The barrier appears to be a partial barrier to some types of pollinators attempting to cross during high wind.

With increasing violence, political, and economic instability in Latin America, there is a record number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border. Latin American migrants are often exposed to traumatic events before leaving their home country and during migration. While prior studies document that sex may play a role in types of traumatic exposure, few studies compare differences in traumatic exposure by sex and place of occurrence of recently arrived immigrants. Addressing this gap, we recruited 120 adults who had recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Participants completed questionnaires to characterize trauma exposures in their home country and during their migration journey. Results found that men reported higher levels of exposure to combat situations, while women were more likely to experience sexual assault. Both combat exposure and sexual traumas occurred more often in home countries than during migration. More than half of the full sample reported being threatened with a firearm. These data confirm gender differences in type of trauma and that exposures in the country of origin may provide the impetus to migrate.

The Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) Division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintains a point spatial dataset of bridge and border crossings that connect Texas with the Mexican States of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas. This dataset includes bridges, dam crossings and a ferry. The majority of these facilities are open and tolled, however some are not tolled or closed and others are proposed or may be currently under construction.

The dataset spans the Texas-Mexico border, from the City of El Paso, Texas southeast to the City of Brownsville, Texas which expands over 1,200 miles.

This dataset is based on the Texas-Mexico Border Crossings Study - Crossings which is available to the public on TxDOT's website: http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/statewide/border-crossing/crossings.html

The main source for this study is the report, "Texas-Mexico International Bridges and Border Crossings: Existing and Proposed, published by TxDOT", which is also available to the public on TxDOT's website: http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/forms-publications/publications/international-relations.html

The dataset published by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics produces a similar dataset, but does not include proposed and closed border crossings and Lake Amistad Dam which may have not reopened when BTS last reported on border crossings. Border crossing naming convention is very different between the 2 datasets and the attribute tables are very different as well.Update Frequency: As neededSecurity Level: Public

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Border Crossing Data provide summary statistics for inbound crossings at the U.S.-Canada and the U.S.-Mexico border at the port level. Data are available for trucks, trains, containers, buses, personal vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians. Border crossing data are collected at ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The data reflect the number of vehicles, containers, passengers or pedestrians entering the United States. CBP does not collect comparable data on outbound crossings. Users seeking data on outbound counts may therefore want to review data from individual bridge operators, border state governments, or the Mexican and Canadian governments.

This statistic portrays the number of border crossings for empty trucks from Mexico and Canada to the United States in 2016, with a breakdown by major state. That year, over ******* empty trucks crossed the U.S. border and arrived in Michigan.

US Mexico Cross Border FTL Freight Transport Market Report is Segmented by End-User (Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Retail, Oil & Gas, Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Others) and Country of Origin (USA and Mexico). The Report Offers the Market Size in Value Terms in USD for all the Above Mentioned Segments.

Content

This report provides statistics for the number of illegal immigrants arrested or apprehended by the border patrol in each division (or sector) of the United States borders with Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean islands; this data is a partial measure of the flow of people illegally entering the United States.

Acknowledgements

Data was compiled and published by the US Border Patrol on the Customs and Border Protection webpage.

Border Wall Sensor Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global border wall sensor market size stands at USD 1.6 billion in 2024. The market is experiencing robust growth, with a recorded Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2025 to 2033. By the end of 2033, the market is anticipated to reach a value of USD 3.3 billion. This surge is primarily driven by escalating security concerns, increased cross-border threats, and the rapid adoption of advanced sensor technologies for effective border management and surveillance operations.

The growth trajectory of the border wall sensor market is underpinned by the rising frequency of illegal border crossings, smuggling activities, and geopolitical tensions across several regions. Governments worldwide are heavily investing in the modernization of border security infrastructure, integrating smart sensors to enhance real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities. The proliferation of sophisticated sensor systems, such as seismic, infrared, and fiber optic sensors, is further catalyzing market expansion. These technologies enable authorities to detect, classify, and respond to potential threats with increased accuracy and reduced false alarms, thereby strengthening perimeter security. Additionally, technological advancements in sensor networks, artificial intelligence, and data analytics are transforming traditional border surveillance into highly automated and efficient systems.

Another significant growth factor is the global trend toward digitalization and automation in security operations. The integration of border wall sensors with centralized command centers and networked surveillance platforms allows for seamless data sharing and actionable intelligence. This interconnected ecosystem enhances situational awareness and operational efficiency, making it possible to cover vast and challenging terrains that were previously difficult to secure. Moreover, the growing adoption of hybrid and wireless sensor technologies is reducing the need for extensive physical infrastructure, lowering installation costs, and enabling flexible deployment in remote or harsh environments. These factors collectively contribute to the sustained growth of the border wall sensor market.

Public and private sector collaborations are also playing a pivotal role in market development. Governments are increasingly partnering with technology providers and defense contractors to deploy integrated border security solutions. Such partnerships are fostering innovation and accelerating the deployment of next-generation sensor technologies. Furthermore, favorable government policies, increased funding for homeland security, and international initiatives aimed at curbing illegal migration and transnational crime are providing a conducive environment for market expansion. As a result, the border wall sensor market is poised for continued growth, driven by the imperative to safeguard national sovereignty and public safety.

From a regional standpoint, North America holds the largest share of the border wall sensor market, owing to substantial investments in border security infrastructure along the US-Mexico border. Europe and Asia Pacific are also witnessing significant growth, fueled by rising security threats and the need for advanced surveillance solutions. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America regions are emerging as lucrative markets, driven by increasing border-related security challenges and the adoption of modern sensor technologies. Regional market dynamics are influenced by factors such as government spending, technological readiness, and the evolving threat landscape, which collectively shape the demand for border wall sensors across the globe.

Sensor Type Analysis

The border wall sensor market is segmented by sensor type into seismic sensors, infrared sensors, microwave sensors, fiber optic sensors, radar sensors, and others. Seismic sensors have gained prominence due to their ability to detect ground vibrations caused by human movement, vehicles, or tunneling activities. These sensors are widely deployed in border regions prone to illegal crossings and tunneling attempts, providing early warning and real-time alerts to security personnel. The adoption of seismic sensors is further bolstered by their reliability in harsh environmental conditions and their capability to cover extensive border stretches with minimal maintenance. The ongoing innovation in sei

This dataset shows active grain (corn, soybeans, wheat, and sorghum) rail tariff rates to the Mexico border for a number of U.S. locations, border crossings, car types, and shipment sizes for BNSF, Union Pacific, and Kansas City Southern (KCS). These rates are Rule 11 rates, where a through rate from a U.S. origin to a Mexico destination is divided into a rate from a U.S. origin to the border and a rate from the border to a Mexico destination. The U.S. railroads began reporting only Rule 11 rates to the border in January 2022 following the implementation of a VAT tax on the Mexican portion of the rail shipment. This dataset only contains rates on the U.S. to-the-border portion of the shipment.

The rates are collected from the BNSF, UP, and KCS websites. The railroads do not update the tariffs on defined interval, but do typically have at least one update a year before that commodity's harvest season. The tariff rates are joined to fuel surcharges that are updated monthly. A row in the dataset represents the active tariff rate for that shipment type (route, size, etc.) and the fuel surcharge for that railroad in a particular month. In the case where a tariff rate is changed mid-month, the row is an average of any rates that were active during that month.

Fuel surcharges are published by the railroads on a monthly, per-mile basis and are collected separately from the tariff documents (See USDA's fuel surcharge data at https://agtransport.usda.gov/d/f883-g4tq). To compute a per car fuel surcharge, the U.S. origin to the border rail route distance is approximated using the Department of Transportation's National Rail Network Lines (NARL) dataset and a shortest-path computation.

KCS is now CPKC, but KCS rates are still reported separately at https://web.kcsouthern.com/AgricultureTariff/Default.aspx.

The dataset is intended to capture most of the published tariffs for corn, soybean, and wheat shipments to Mexico. However, some routes and tariff updates may not be included.

/data.zip: N-Gen Border Survey data (questions and responses) in .csv and .xls format. /consent_recruitment.zip: contains consent forms and recruitment materials in English and Spanish. The U.S.-Mexico border is a region of significant biological and cultural diversity that is of interest to scientists from a wide variety of disciplines. It is also an area of humanitarian crisis and contentious politics. U.S. and Mexican researchers who conduct fieldwork on both sides of the border are faced with ethical and logistical challenges in the course of their daily work. In our study, we find that researchers are faced with challenges ranging from difficulty in obtaining permits and accessing lands in border regions, to fear and intimidation along the militarized zones. Despite many having had direct experiences that affect their safety, most researchers feel safe working in the region and adapt their behavior by staying away from risky places. However, in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, the research community is left caught in the middle when their work intersects with civil and human rights.We present survey data that examines of the effects of U.S. Border policies on scientific research, specifically those researchers conducting fieldwork on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border. While anecdotal accounts exist, we present the first quantifiable data on this subject and document the interactions that field researchers have with authorities and people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and the impacts that these interactions have on their ability to conduct researchThis study was approved by an Institutional Review Board responsible for human subjects research at The University of Arizona; IRB# 1901268217. Data made available under the Creative Commons has respondents' individual comments redacted to protect participant identity, however, parties interested in collaborating on use of the full dataset may contact the authors at nextgensd@gmail.com.

For inquiries regarding the contents of this dataset, please contact the Corresponding Author listed in the README.txt file. Administrative inquiries (e.g., removal requests, trouble downloading, etc.) can be directed to data-management@arizona.edu