A record number of migrant encounters have been reported at the US border since the start of fiscal year 2023, as thousands of people cross into the country each day, according to Customs and Border Protection sources.
As of Thursday, there have been 617,250 total migrant encounters at the border since Oct. 1, a new record for the months of October, November and December. CBP sources tell Fox News there are an average of 6,858 encounters per day.
Of the 617,250 total encounters, 186,573 migrants were removed under the Title 42 public health order, leaving the majority of the 430,677 migrants released in the United States.
Most of these encounters are occurring in Texas, where the El Paso sector reported 159,186 encounters and the Del Rio sector had 137,836.
SUPREME COURT TEMPORARILY HOLDS COMPLETION OF TITLE 42, WILL HEAR CASE IN FEBRUARY
EL PASO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: An aerial view of immigrants lining up next to the US-Mexico border fence after spending the night outside on December 22, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. An increase in the number of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States has challenged local, state, and federal authorities. The numbers are expected to rise as the fate of the Title 42 authority to remove migrants remains in limbo pending a Supreme Court decision expected after Christmas.
(John Moore/Getty Images)
EL PASO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Immigrants bundle up against the cold after spending the night camped next to the US-Mexico border fence on December 22, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. An increase in the number of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States has challenged local, state, and federal authorities. The numbers are expected to rise as the fate of the Title 42 authority to remove migrants remains in limbo pending a Supreme Court decision expected after Christmas.
(John Moore/Getty Images)
SUPREME COURT PRAISE FOR RULING ON BORDER SECURITY TITLE 42: ‘GREAT VICTORY’
The more than half a million people found at the border since October have surpassed fiscal year 2022 when there were more than 517,000 encounters at the end of December, and fiscal year 21 when there were just over 216,000 in the same period. In fiscal year 2020, there were only 458,058 encounters for the entire fiscal year.
The federal government has removed more than 2.5 million migrants since March 2020 under the authority of Title 42. The Biden administration has sought to end the policy, which was enacted as a public health order during the pandemic. , while red states have sued, arguing that doing so would lead to an overwhelming rush of illegal immigration and put undue strain on their state resources.
SUPREME COURT JUDGES DISSENT ON TITLE 42: ‘WE ARE A COURT OF LAW’
EL PASO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Immigrants heat a fire at dawn after spending the night outside next to the US-Mexico border fence on December 22, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. An increase in the number of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States has challenged local, state, and federal authorities. The numbers are expected to rise as the fate of the Title 42 authority to remove migrants remains in limbo pending a Supreme Court decision expected after Christmas.
(John Moore/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, the US Supreme Court temporarily halted the Biden administration’s effort to end Title 42, allowing the Trump-era policy to remain in place until the court hears the Republican-led challenge. .
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Even with Title 42 in effect, a record 2.3 million migrants were found at the border in fiscal year 2022, according to Customs and Border Protection.
Paul Best, Adam Shaw and Bill Melugin of Fox News contributed to this report.
