Record Breaking Border Encounters in August, the Most in U.S. History

The numbers are in, and they are alarming. According to recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), more than 322,000 illegal border crossers were encountered at the southern and northern borders in the month of August alone.

This is the highest number of encounters ever recorded in a single month in U.S. history, highlighting the ongoing crisis at our southern border.

But these staggering numbers don't tell the full story. While CBP initially reported 304,162 total encounters, it later came to light that an additional 30,000 individuals, known as "gotaways," were not included in this count.

Gotaways are foreign nationals who enter the country illegally between ports of entry and do not return to their home country. This means that the actual number of illegal border crossers last month exceeded 350,000.

Thousands of illegal migrants walk across the southern border into Eagle Pass, Texas. Most of these migrants are coming from Venezuela by train.

And the problem is not limited to August. Since the beginning of 2021, over 1.6 million gotaways have been reported at the southern border alone. This is a clear indication that the situation at our border is spiraling out of control.

Despite these alarming numbers, many mainstream media outlets have been downplaying the severity of the situation. Initial reports of 230,000 encounters at the southwest border in August failed to mention the addition of gotaways, painting a much lower and inaccurate picture. This is why it is important to look at the full scope of the issue and not just a select number.

To put this crisis into perspective, in August of 2022, there were only 251,521 total illegal border crossers reported. This is a steep increase from the previous year's numbers and a shocking 385% increase from August of 2020. The only other month with a higher number of reported border encounters was November of 2022, with 284,665 total illegal border crossers.

This record-breaking number of encounters is not just a one-time occurrence. In fact, CBP data shows that in fiscal year 2023, nearly 2.9 million total illegal border crossers have been encountered. This surpasses the previous record of 2.76 million in fiscal year 2022, and we still have a month left to go.

The majority of these illegal border crossers are single adults, with almost 1.9 million apprehended this fiscal year alone. This is a significant increase from the 536,792 single adult encounters in Fiscal Year 2020.

The second largest demographic is individuals claiming to be in a family unit, with over 853,000 encountered this year so far. This is a drastic increase from the 74,960 family units encountered in fiscal year 2020.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during the second Fox News Presidential Debate at the President Regan Library, September 27th 2023.

Meanwhile, unaccompanied minors, a vulnerable group often used by cartels to exploit our border, have also seen a sharp increase in numbers. In fiscal year 2022, 152,880 unaccompanied minors were encountered, compared to 34,126 in Fiscal Year 2020.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a crisis that affects all Americans – and eventually communities like Denver. The record-breaking numbers at our southern border are a direct result of the Biden administration's reckless immigration policies, which have created an enticing magnet for illegal immigration.

It is time for the administration to take responsibility and take immediate action to secure our border and protect our citizens.