Republican Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp joined ‘The Faulkner Focus’ to discuss their support for Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott on the border crisis. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that December 2023 broke records for migrant encounters at the southern border, with over 302,000 encounters reported. This surpasses the previous monthly record set in September and marks the first time the number has exceeded 300,000. The sheer magnitude of these encounters is equivalent to filling the Las Vegas Super Bowl stadium over four and a half times or nearly the entire population of Cincinnati. Approximately 250,000 of these encounters took place between ports of entry.
The latest numbers highlight the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which has been a contentious issue throughout 2021. Fiscal year 2023 saw over 2.4 million migrant encounters, following a record-setting fiscal year 2022. Notably, these figures do not include estimates of over 800,000 “gotaways” or migrants paroled through the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole program, which allows 30,000 migrants to fly directly into the United States each month as part of the Biden administration’s “expanded lawful pathways.” Additionally, 19 individuals on the terror watch list were arrested in December, all at the southern border. This brings the total number of arrests in fiscal year 2024 so far to 50, with 49 on the southern border and one on the northern border.
The issue of border security remains a contentious topic across the country, with Texas officials feuding with the federal government over the state’s seizure of Shelby Park and the removal of razor wire set up by Texas. The Supreme Court recently allowed the Biden administration to resume the practice. Meanwhile, “sanctuary” cities have called for aid from the Biden administration to handle the influx of migrants, some of whom have been bused in by Texas. In Washington D.C., negotiations are ongoing over a border supplemental bill, with the White House requesting $14 billion for aid to communities, increased staffing, and expedited removal. Republicans argue that the package should include asylum restrictions and limits on the administration’s use of humanitarian parole.
The Biden administration has called for comprehensive immigration reform from Congress and funding to address what they perceive as a “broken” system. They have also emphasized the number of removals since May, which exceeds the entirety of fiscal year 2019, and record fentanyl seizures. Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller stressed the need for additional support from Congress to address the challenges faced at the southwest border. However, Republicans continue to blame the crisis on the Biden administration and its policies, with some even calling for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green emphasized that the record-breaking number of encounters is evidence of the Biden administration’s intentional disregard for laws passed by Congress. He argued that the open borders policy sends a message worldwide that entering the country illegally leads to release into the interior with little chance of removal. Republicans view this as intentional and disastrous.
It is important to note that Adam Shaw, the author of this article, is a politics reporter for Digital, with a primary focus on immigration and border security.
