Retired Yuma sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem describes mostly single adult males crossing the border near Lukeville, Ariz. Migrant encounters at the southern border hit the highest total for a single day ever recorded on Tuesday, marking yet another record broken as part of the ongoing migrant crisis which has hammered cities at both the border and across the country.
According to multiple Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources, there were over 12,000 migrant encounters on Tuesday, with over 10,200 of those being Border Patrol encounters of illegal immigrants coming between ports of entry. This number is one of the highest ever recorded for the agency by itself, but it breaks a record when combined with the encounters by CBP’s Office of Field Operations at ports of entry. The agency currently has over 22,000 migrants in custody, leading to heavily overcrowded Border Patrol sectors.
In Fiscal Year 23, a new record of 2.4 million migrant encounters was reached, with September seeing the highest monthly total ever recorded, exceeding 260,000 encounters. Although October saw slightly fewer encounters, with over 240,000, it still set a record for that month. The Tucson Sector in Arizona has been particularly affected in recent weeks, experiencing a surge in migrant encounters, including hundreds of adult male migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. With nearly 3,000 encounters in a single day and 17,500 in a single week, the Tucson Sector has faced unprecedented numbers.
The Del Rio Sector, which includes the traffic hotspot of Eagle Pass, has also seen a significant increase, with over 3,300 illegal crossings in that sector alone. As overwhelmed Border Patrol agents process adult migrants in Lukeville, Arizona, many express their desire to pursue opportunities in cities like New York City. However, these cities are already struggling with the influx of migrants and are demanding $5 billion in aid from the Biden administration, significantly more than the $1.5 billion requested by the White House.
The funding request is currently being held up as Democrats and Republicans clash over border provisions. Republicans, holding the Biden administration responsible for the crisis, are advocating for restrictions on asylum and parole, while Democrats insist on an amnesty for illegal immigrants already in the U.S. The Biden administration, which has requested $14 billion for overall border operations, is urging Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated on CNN that the administration is open to some Republican proposals but rejects others that contradict the country’s fundamental values. President Biden also acknowledged the need to address the broken border system and expressed willingness to make significant compromises.
The escalating border crisis has raised concerns across the nation. As the Biden administration grapples with finding effective solutions, the situation at the southern border continues to worsen. The impact of this crisis extends beyond border cities, affecting the entire country and prompting debates and negotiations between political parties.
Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security, contributed to this article. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter.
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