In a startling surge, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have reported a record-breaking number of encounters with illegal immigrants at the U.S. southern border in December. The CBP source revealed that approximately 302,000 encounters occurred, surpassing the previous 269,735 set in September. While the official data is yet to be released publicly, it’s expected to be made available later this month.
The surge in encounters extends beyond the southern border, with total encounters across the northern and coastal borders on track to exceed a record-breaking 340,000 to 350,000. This alarming increase has prompted Republicans to point fingers at the Biden administration, accusing it of failing to enforce immigration laws and undoing the successful border policies implemented by former President Donald Trump.
CBP statistics show that in December alone, the number of interactions at the southern border exceeded the total for the initial nine months of the Trump administration (227,078), as well as the last nine months of fiscal year 2017. Additionally, the opening three months of fiscal year 2024 have recorded roughly 785,404 interactions, surpassing the annual totals for almost every year under the Trump presidency, except for fiscal year 2019, which saw 977,509 interactions.
It is estimated that over 8 million illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. during President Biden’s term, leading overwhelmed border states such as Texas to transport migrants to Democrat-led cities that have designated themselves as sanctuaries for illegal immigrants. However, even the mayors of these cities are voicing their concerns to the Biden administration regarding the escalating migrant surge.
New York City’s Mayor, affiliated with the Democratic Party, voiced concerns about the rising number of migrants arriving in the city: “We are witnessing a new surge of migrants in New York City, and this is anticipated to escalate in the days ahead due to the policies of the Texas Governor from the Republican Party. For several months, we managed to prevent the impact of this situation from becoming visible on our streets, but we’ve now hit a critical juncture and can no longer maintain this.”
Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is also a member of the Democratic Party, shared similar concerns, saying, “We are at a pivotal moment in this challenge, one that requires immediate, substantial intervention. Our local economies were not structured to handle this kind of situation. We are essentially creating the response system as we proceed.”
Mark Morgan, the former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner under the Trump administration, emphasized the need for action, stating, “Our border security right now is not a red or blue issue: It’s a red, white, and blue issue. And I’m still fighting to bring awareness and intention to the American people on that question.”