Illegal immigration along the U.S. southwest border has halved since hitting a historic high in December 2023, according to official figures.
“In January 2024, U.S. Border Patrol recorded 124,220 encounters between ports of entry along the Southwest border, a 50% decrease from December 2023,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Bureau (CBP) announced. January monthly update. In contrast, CBP said in the report that there were 249,785 such encounters in December 2023. Monthly Update for December 2023. This decline reportedly reached the first two weeks of January.
“The total number of CBP encounters along the Southwest Border in January 2024 was 176,205, a 42% decrease from December 2023,” CBP added. There were reportedly 302,034 such encounters in December 2023.
Border Patrol encounters in December 2023 totaled 249,785, “the highest monthly total ever and easily surpassing the previous peak of approximately 224,000 in May 2022.” according to Pew Research Center.
Meanwhile, encounters with illegal immigrants in CBP's Del Rio area of Texas plummeted 76% in January, after 71,048 people were arrested in December, The Washington Post reported. report. Immigrants reportedly prefer southern Arizona and San Diego areas in Democratic-controlled states of Arizona and California, respectively. Both sectors are the top hotspots for illegal immigration, according to the report.
“Our stubborn resistance is working. Texas will continue to hold the line,” Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. tweeted The other Saturday.
“Under the U.S. Constitution, states have the right to defend themselves against invasion,” Governor Abbott said. tweeted Friday. “Smuggling cartels and deadly fentanyl pose a danger to Texas, and Texas will continue to do the job Biden failed to do: secure our southern border.”
“Since the beginning of Operation Lone Star, multi-agency efforts have led to more than 501,300 illegal immigrant arrests and more than 39,800 criminal arrests involving more than 35,800 felonies,” Governor Abbott said. also mentioned. statement Friday. According to reports, Governor Abbott launched the operation on March 6, 2021, in response to the migrant crisis at the southern border. another press release. (Related: Exclusive: Video released showing migrants sheltering in hidden rooms under military security at major U.S. airports)
Illegal border crossings into the United States have fallen by 50% since late December, during a historic surge in immigration.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) takes credit for the change. https://t.co/oPtZU13KZ9
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 23, 2024
Texas lies along the border with Mexico Gathered support using razor wire Received awards from 13 governors for efforts against illegal immigration. Gov. Abbott said in a statement Friday that the state has bused 103,600 undocumented immigrants to other locations outside the state since 2022, including 38,200 in New York City and 31,700 in Chicago. He said he was transferred to.
“Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gap created by the Biden administration’s refusal to secure border security,” Governor Abbott added in a statement Friday.
But CBP and Homeland Security (DHS) officials say the decline is due to seasonal changes, according to a report in the Washington Post. – Blame it on the Mexican government's more robust response after meeting with President Obrador.
There will reportedly be a surge in border crossings in the spring.
