U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its monthly update touting a decline in the number of encounters with migrants since last month.
In March, Border Patrol recorded 137,480 encounters between ports of entry along the Southwest border. Encounter rates between ports of entry along the Southwest border decreased by 45% compared to December 2023 and by 16% compared to March 2023.
Although March was the lowest number of Border Patrol encounters under the Biden administration, CBP records show 1,340,801 total encounters in the first half of fiscal year 2024, a record 1,226,254 total encounters. This exceeded the target for the first half of fiscal 2023.
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On March 21, 2024, more than 100 migrants breach the border fence and the Texas National Guard attempts to stop them. (James Breeden, New York Post/Mega)
The report says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott highlights his state’s unique plan, Operation Lone Star, as it continues to bridge the dangerous gap created by the Biden administration’s refusal to secure the southern border. It was announced in the statement.
“Border wall construction continues in Zapata County. While the Biden administration refuses to secure the border, Texas is working around the clock to deter and repel illegal immigration along our southern border.” Abbott wrote in Thursday’s X Post.
Since the beginning of Operation Lone Star, multi-agency efforts have led to the arrest of more than 507,200 illegal immigrants and more than 41,500 arrests, including more than 36,900 felonies, Abbott said. added.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, and the Biden administration have been at odds over how to deal with the growing border crisis. (Getty Images)
“Due to President Joe Biden’s open borders policy, every individual apprehended or apprehended and every drug seized would have entered communities in Texas and across the country,” Abbott said in the release.
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CBP’s monthly immigrant encounter statistics are collected on the 1st of the following month and released two weeks later.
“CBP, in collaboration with our partners across the federal government and with foreign partners, continues to take critical action to disrupt criminal networks amidst unprecedented hemispheric migration activity.” said Troy A. Miller, a senior CBP official. “Although encounter rates at our southern border are currently decreasing, we continue to prepare for change and continually manage operations to respond to ever-changing cross-border criminal activity and migration patterns. .”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to appeal a federal ruling blocking a state law that gives authorities the power to arrest illegal immigrants and state judges to order their deportations. (Getty Images)
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On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security also announced that an Afghan national on the U.S. terrorist watch list had been retaken into custody after previously being captured at the U.S.-Mexico border and released onto U.S. soil twice.
