In a recent interview with ‘FOX & Friends Weekend’, Texas Republican state Rep. David Spiller shed light on three bills aimed at bolstering border security and expanding police power to deport illegal immigrants. The discussion comes in the wake of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data revealing that over 900,000 migrants were released into the interior of the United States in Fiscal Year 2023, including more than 150,000 in September alone. These figures provide insight into the number of migrants who crossed the border illegally and were allowed to stay in the country.
The majority of those encountered between ports of entry were released into the U.S. with a notice to appear on their own recognizance (NTA/OR), meaning they were given instructions to appear in court, often years into the future. Additionally, a minority were released under humanitarian parole between October 2022 and January 2023. These statistics raise concerns about the effectiveness of current immigration policies and enforcement at the border.
For the entire fiscal year, Border Patrol’s release of 900,000 migrants surpasses the population sizes of several U.S. states. Furthermore, there were over two million encounters by Border Patrol agents in FY 2023 alone, with a historic high of 269,000 encounters in September. These numbers highlight the magnitude of the ongoing border crisis.
In response to these alarming statistics, the Biden administration has requested an additional $14 billion in funding for border operations. This funding would support processing, aid states and communities where migrants have been released, and provide additional resources for transportation and alternatives to detention. The administration argues that Congress must provide additional funding and pass legislation to address the broken immigration system.
However, Republicans have criticized the Biden administration’s policies, including reduced interior enforcement and the release of migrants, for exacerbating the crisis. They have passed their own legislation in the House, which includes measures to increase border security, such as wall construction, and to limit asylum and parole releases. Republicans argue that the border situation is spiraling out of control due to the administration’s approach.
The president of the National Border Patrol Council, Brandon Judd, referred to the CBP data as evidence of the border being “out of control.” He criticized the practice of releasing illegal border crossers into the United States, stating that it incentivizes further illegal immigration. Judd and others have called on Republicans in Congress, now with a new speaker in the House, to take decisive action to address the crisis.
R.J. Hauman, president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE), echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the Biden administration has released more illegal aliens into American communities than any other year. Hauman called on Congress to end the “welcome and release” chaos and take immediate action.
The conversation surrounding border security and immigration remains contentious, with Republicans pushing for stricter policies and Democrats seeking comprehensive immigration reform. As the crisis at the southern border continues, it is crucial for lawmakers to find common ground and implement effective measures to address the challenges facing the nation’s immigration system.
Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security, contributed to this article.
