Otherwise, use the Windows style sheet. The Border Patrol made 104,448 apprehensions along the southwest border during September 1998, an increase of 13 percent compared to September 1997. Voluntary returns, conducted by Border Patrol agents, increased by 12 percent to 100,734. Apprehensions and voluntary returns for fiscal year 1998 were each up 11 percent when compared to fiscal year 1997. January Normally, apprehensions reach a yearly low in December followed by a strong seasonal increase in January.
Seasonal highs tend to be reached in early spring.
Apprehensions fluctuate but remain relatively high through the summer months and then start their autumn decline in September, which continues through the Christmas and New Year holidays. Southwest border apprehensions for October, November, and December FY98 showed a seasonal pattern of decrease followed by the usual steep increase for January. Fiscal year 1997 started with comparative decreases, but set single-month record highs in February and March. Similarly, fiscal year 1998 registered a single-month record for March at 205,461, while April through September 1998 apprehensions remained high compared to the same months in FY97. Fiscal year 1998 southwest border apprehensions reached 1,516,680, the highest number recorded since FY86.