Record-Breaking 300,000 Migrants Processed in December: Unprecedented Strain on U.S. Border and Communities Like Denver
The United States is bracing as southern border officials are set to process a historic number of over 300,000 migrants in December. This unprecedented surge marks the highest monthly tally on record, likely to include record-breaking numbers of families with children, according to internal government data.
This crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, now lasting over three years, is pushing resources to their limits in communities across the U.S., leaving countless migrants in limbo, and inciting lawmakers to contemplate drastic limitations on asylum. This situation also poses a significant political challenge as Joe Biden is being criticized from both Republicans and Democrats.
@CBSNEWS / Face the Nation
The U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Mexican border are projected to take custody of a staggering quarter of a million migrants who entered the country illegally this month. Their colleagues at official ports of entry are expected to process an additional 50,000 new arrivals under a new appointment system introduced by the Biden administration.
This monumental workload marks the first time in history that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has processed this many migrants along the southern border in a single month. The previous high, recorded in September, saw nearly 270,000 processed migrants along the southern border.\
The first 28 days of December saw the Border Patrol processing nearly 235,000 migrants who crossed the southern border illegally, averaging about 8,400 apprehensions daily. If this trend continues, the month will close with roughly 260,000 apprehensions, an all-time high.
@_BruceBane
A unique challenge presents itself in the form of families. Through December 28, the Border Patrol processed nearly 96,000 migrant parents and children traveling together. This number is on track to match or surpass the 103,000 family members apprehended in September, the current monthly high. The vulnerability of children and legal limitations on detaining minors pose a unique challenge to federal officials.
This record spike in migration presents a significant test for the Biden administration's border strategy, which aims to reduce illegal crossings by diverting migrants to programs that allow them to legally enter the U.S. and heightening penalties for those bypassing these channels.
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Yet, despite these efforts, the strategy seems to be failing as the immigration system struggles under the unprecedented migration flows. The current figures suggest that most migrants who entered the U.S. illegally in recent months have been released with court notices, without any asylum screenings, due to lack of manpower and resources.
With less than 800 immigration judges overseeing 3 million pending cases, this massive backlog means court cases can take years to complete. This scenario paints a dire picture, not only for those seeking asylum but also for the communities grappling with this historic influx of indigent migrants, such as Denver.