U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported more than two million encounters with unlawful migrants at the border during the 2023 fiscal year, marking a consistent rise in the total number of encounters compared to prior years.
CBP reported 2,063,692 encounters at the border during FY 2023, with the number of encounters rising yearly since 2020.
The report specified that there were 20,166 “criminal noncitizens” encountered during FY 2023, which CBP defines as unlawful migrants who have “been convicted of [a] crime, whether in the United States or abroad, so long as the conviction is for conduct which is deemed criminal by the United States.”
Between September and October, CBP agents from the Del Rio Sector apprehended 21 unlawful migrants who were convicted sex offenders, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“Due to the hard work and dedication of our agents, these dangerous individuals were not able to enter our country. Great work!” wrote acting chief patrol agent Juan G. Bernal in a social media post detailing the apprehensions.
An October update reported that the world is enduring the “largest displacement of individuals globally since World War II.” However, Troy A. Miller, a senior official performing the duties of CBP commissioner, said the agency “saw an overall decrease of 14 percent between ports of entry, as well as an overall decrease of family units.”
The most recent report comes following an update by the agency that there were 269,735 encounters with unlawful migrants in September of 2023, the highest number of encounters in a single month since 2000, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The high number of unlawful migrants entering the United States has prompted action from city and state officials, including Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., who issued an emergency declaration in September.
By issuing an emergency declaration, Eagle Pass can seek support from the state and federal governments.
Similarly, Gov. Greg Abbott has taken steps to manage the crisis, including the busing of more than 71,000 unlawful migrants to sanctuary cities around the country, according to a December 1 press release from Abbott’s office.
