Amid a sharp decline in illegal border crossings, U.S. Border Patrol has begun focusing a greater portion of its operations on highways and inland checkpoints.

Witnesses say the strategy includes an increased deployment of agents along major highways and at checkpoints, particularly in border regions such as San Diego and Yuma, Arizona.

The shift comes in part as illegal border crossings have fallen by nearly 95% compared with levels recorded in 2023, prompting the agency to adjust how it deploys its resources and personnel.

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According to the report, agents are seeking to identify not only people who entered the country without authorization, but also potential migrant smugglers and other activities associated with human and drug trafficking.

The new strategy has also raised questions over the implications of conducting enforcement operations farther from the border, particularly for people who travel daily on the region's highways.

In San Diego, where thousands of people commute daily between border communities and other parts of the county, the increased enforcement operations could have a direct impact on those who use the region's main transportation routes.

The change in operations comes as Border Patrol maintains a historic presence in the region and federal authorities continue to adjust their immigration enforcement strategies.