After many requests from the media and politicians, the Biden administration finally released the total number of what the agency refers to as migrant encounters from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the month of September. A total of 269,735 migrant encounters occurred in September, with a total of 218,763 encountered entering illegally by Border Patrol agents.
September’s numbers set a new high for monthly encounters and 2023 has now the highest fiscal year total on record.
In September 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol conducted 4,633 rescues of migrants, increasing the total number of rescues in Fiscal Year 2023 from 32,690 at the end of August to 37,323 at the end of September. CBP says this shows a “significant rise in rescues – an increase of 44% compared with rescues in August (3,212) and an increase of 67% compared with rescues in July (2,776).”
According to CBP, taxpayers have picked up the cost of deportation of over 300,000 individuals, including more than 45,000 individual family members since May 2023.
Taxpayers are on the hook for the cost of DHS removing or returning more individual family members that illegally entered the U.S. due to the Biden administration’s open border policies in the last four months alone than in any previous full fiscal year.
The National Immigration Center for Enforcement reports that Border Patrol agents arrested 18 individuals on the FBI’s terror watchlist at the southern border in September, bringing the total for Fiscal Year 2023 to 169, the highest year ever.
Border Chief Jason Owens tweeted just this week, “Over 18K known gotaways in the first 16 days of FY24. These are individuals whose identities & purpose we do not know. That is why you need every Border Patrol agent to be in the field and on patrol.”
Although the Biden administration has touted its request for increased border funding, Rep. Mary Miller pointed out that “his so-called “border security” funding request includes $850 million for “expansion of migrant pathways” and “refugee resettlement to the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere.”
Only one lawmaker reacted to the stunning new.
Rep. Andy Biggs tweeted, “New data reveals immigration authorities encountered 269,735 illegal aliens in Sept—the highest monthly total ON RECORD. More than 2.4 million illegal aliens have been encountered this fiscal year under Biden—the highest yearly total ON RECORD. How many got away?”
New data reveals immigration authorities encountered 269,735 illegal aliens in Sept—the highest monthly total ON RECORD.
More than 2.4 million illegal aliens have been encountered this fiscal year under Biden—the highest yearly total ON RECORD.
How many got away? pic.twitter.com/SOSeT3baKx
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) October 21, 2023
The day before, Rep. Ruben Gallego only addressed his demand for more assistance from FEMA for the blue cities along the U.S. border that are housing illegal migrants, like Tucson, Arizona. While those communities have been swamped by the surge, the NGOs that serve the illegal migrant industry are quickly running out of funds. At the same time, local hospitals are facing severe financial issues as they are forced to provide care to the illegals immediately, only to wait months for partial reimbursements.