Record number of illegal migrant encounters crush U.S. southern border

Photo: Alamy

December 2023 closed out with a destructive blow, as U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) revealed harrowing statistics on just how many illegal migrant encounters there were in one month.

According to Bill Melugin, a national correspondent for Fox News, CBP sources told the outlet that there were 302,000 illegal migrant encounters at the border in December, marking the highest-ever number of encounters in U.S. history in a single month.

Melugin expanded on X, “That includes nearly 250,000 Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal immigrants, also highest month ever for BP. There have now been over 785,000 migrant encounters at the southern border since October 1st, the highest first quarter ever recorded. That’s a population size bigger than the city of Seattle coming across the border in just 3 months.”

The zenith of illegal migration problems seems to be an unstoppable issue amidst the Biden administration’s absent leadership on the issue, prompting many lawmakers to speak out.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., stated on X, “The border is wide open. The President must take action immediately to stop the flow of drugs, terrorists and illegal immigrants.”

“TREASON!!!” was how Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., described the scenario on social media in response to the overwhelming statistics on the border. Fox News’ Griff Jenkins reiterated Melugin’s report that there have been more than 785,000 encounters at the border between Oct. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023.

Rep. David Schweikert. R-Ariz., slammed the escalating problem, as well, calling it “Completely unacceptable.” He further explained, “The Biden administration continues to ignore the reality that we have a full-blown crisis at our southern border.”

Robby Starbuck, a director and ambassador for Americans for Prosperity, argued that if mass illegal immigration continued, Americans could “kiss” their “country goodbye,” which prompted SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk to weigh in.

Musk posited, “The US southern border is open to all 8 billion people on Earth. Very few of those coming through are actually from Mexico. The influx is already overwhelming essential services in major US cities.”