Illegal border crossings into the U.S. hit record numbers

Migrant Traffic at the U.S. Southern Border

In the latest report released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), June 2022 reported a new record in the arrests of migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border illegally for the month of June. Although the arrests are significantly lower than those made in May 2022, the total amount of arrests (191, 898) is higher than last’s year arrest total (178, 649), making it an all-time high for the month of June.

In addition to these arrests for illegal border crossing, another 15,518 migrants were processed for legal entry at the U.S. government ports of entry for asylum-seekers. Although the overall number of migrants seeking entry into the United States is at an all-time high, the CBP is also reporting a decrease in arrests due to the reduction of migrants willing to travel in the hot summer months.

How migrants are being handled after arrest

Migrants looking to enter the United States are each handled differently based on their personal circumstances. According to the latest CBP data, 47% of migrant arrests in June were quickly sent back to either Mexico or their home country under Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that rejects migrants who may have come in contact with a dangerous communicable disease like COVID-19. It should be noted that those individuals denied entry based on Title 42 are not given the opportunity to apply for asylum at the border, a right protected by United States law.

Individuals who have not been turned away due to Title 42 were then processed under U.S. immigration law. This process entails that the migrant is released with a notice to appear in court and then sent to either a long-term detention center or deported under normal U.S. procedure.

Migrant minors (children under the age of 18) who are traveling unaccompanied and are not from Mexico are treated more favorably. Unaccompanied children who are apprehended are usually sent to the Department of Health and Human Services shelters where they remain until they are placed with a sponsor in the United States until they turn 18 years old. These sponsors are usually relatives who are legal residents in the United States.

Minors who are traveling with families and are not immediately expelled are usually released after arrest and given the notice to appear in U.S. immigration court.

Government strain caused by increased migrant traffic

The growing amount of migrant traffic at the U.S. southern border has put a strain on the U.S. immigration system placed at the border. There are roughly 23,000 U.S. immigration agents and officers stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border, however, given the amount of traffic coming through, many of these officials are faced with operational challenges.

It is estimated that these numbers of migrants headed to the U.S. border will increase over time due to climate catastrophe and growing political and economic instability in the Central and South American regions.