(RightIsRight.co) – In an alarming moment signaling the Biden administration’s open border policy, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded an unprecedented number of migrant encounters along the southern border, surpassing 547,000 in the first three months of the 2024 fiscal year.
This figure marks a significant increase compared to previous years and exceeds any similar period’s numbers before Joe Biden’s administration, dating back to 1999.
In contrast, during the same period in fiscal years 2019 and 2020, Border Patrol encountered 153,613 and 101,779 migrants, respectively. The numbers continued to rise in the following years, with 209,342 encounters in the first three months of fiscal 2021 and a sharp increase to 496,730 in fiscal 2022. The most recent count of 547,593 encounters demonstrates a continuing upward trend in illegal border crossings.
As of last week, Border Patrol had over 24,000 migrants in custody across the nation, with sectors like Del Rio, Rio Grande Valley, and Tucson operating beyond their capacity limits. The Del Rio sector in Texas, including Eagle Pass, operated at more than 190% capacity.
In a single day, Border Patrol released 8,388 migrants into the U.S., with more than 23,000 migrants remaining in custody. This followed the additional release of over 6,000 individuals from custody.
Troy A. Miller, a senior official performing the duties of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner, commented on the agency’s difficulties due to these high encounter levels.
Miller highlighted the risks transnational criminal organizations pose to migrants. He emphasized the agency’s efforts to target smugglers and implement measures against transportation companies used in smuggling operations.
In response to the surge, CBP has temporarily closed several ports of entry and railways in San Ysidro, California, Lukeville, Arizona, and El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas. This move allowed the redeployment of 100 Office of Field Operations employees and law enforcement personnel from other agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons, to assist Border Patrol in managing the situation.
The ongoing situation at the southern border continues to strain resources. It highlights the need for a strong migration bill from Congress to address the challenges CBP and its federal partners face.
