https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/oct/21/biden-shatters-records-worst-border-32-million-ill/
The Biden administration just tallied the worst year in border security history, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s final numbers for fiscal 2023, which showed record numbers of illegal immigrants, terrorism suspects and fentanyl detected.
Customs and Border Protection delivered the numbers in a highly unusual Saturday morning news release.
Border Patrol agents detected 2.1 million illegal immigrants, which was down slightly from 2020, when it reported 2.2 million. But the real action was at official ports of entry — land border crossings and, increasingly, airports, where officers encountered 1.1 million unauthorized migrants.
That’s double the rate of 2022, and it reflects Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ attempt to try to convince illegal immigrants to schedule their arrivals in order to be let in. He had said it would take pressure off the Border Patrol agents, who patrol the boundaries between the crossings, but the numbers suggest the overall flow of people continues to rise unabated.
Troy Miller, acting commissioner at CBP, insisted his agency is on top of things.
“CBP will continue to remain vigilant, making operational adjustments as necessary and enforcing consequences under U.S. immigration law,” he said in a statement announcing the grim new numbers.
The numbers will likely fuel a push among House Republicans to impeach Mr. Mayorkas, who along with Mr. Biden erased most of the previous administration’s get-tough policies, with the resulting surge in illegal activity.