A fact sheet recently released by Homeland Security Republicans showed that southern border activity demonstrates the situation has become a humanitarian crisis involving thousands of migrants.
According to the report, border crossings this year included more than 1.1 million illegal crossings along the southwest border, representing a rise of 362 percent during the same period a year ago.
Additionally, the report noted concern regarding the potential elimination of Title 42 authority enabling border personnel to turn away migrants because of the danger posed by communicable diseases.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) June 2021 operational statistics showed CBP encountered 188,829 persons attempting entry along the southwest border. Large expulsion numbers during the pandemic contributed to a rise in the number of migrants making multiple border crossing attempts.
“We are in the hottest part of the summer, and we are seeing a high number of distress calls to CBP from migrants abandoned in treacherous terrain by smugglers with no regard for human life,” CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said. “Although CBP does everything it can to locate and rescue individuals who are lost or distressed, the bottom line is this: the terrain along the border is extreme, the summer heat is severe, and the miles of desert migrants must hike after crossing the border in many areas are unforgiving.”
Per the CBP report, the number of children in CBP custody decreased from 5,767 at its peak on March 29 to 832 on June 30, 2021, and smuggling organizations are abandoning migrants in remote areas, contributing to a rise in CBP rescues.
CBP is collaborating with the Mexican government regarding border security, irregular migration flows, and initiatives to improve bilateral information sharing and mentoring.