Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2023) —U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released its Southwest border statistics for May, highlighting a significant increase in inadmissible alien encounters at border ports. The number of such encounters reached nearly 53,000, marking a 565-percent rise compared to May 2021 and setting a new record. While a slight decline in Border Patrol apprehensions from April to May might grab headlines, the surge in port encounters tells a broader story.
“This increase at the border ports is attributed to the Biden administration’s policies aimed at redirecting would-be illegal migrants to official ports of entry to hide the true size and costs of its border policies,” said Andrew Arthur, the Center’s fellow in law and policy. “Initiatives such as the ‘CHNV Parole’ program and the ‘CBP One app interview scheme’ have facilitated the entry of over 1 million aliens without valid visas, surpassing the populations of 13 U.S. states. This is, of course, in addition to the millions of migrants released into the U.S. under other policies.”
Key Highlights:
Border Patrol Apprehensions:
- Approximately 118,000 illegal entrants were apprehended by Border Patrol agents in May, an 8.5 percent decrease from April's 129,000.
- That’s the lowest apprehension total since February 2021, but excluding Title 42 expulsions, May's apprehension figures surpass those of every month in FY 2021 and FY 2022, and the first four months of FY 2023.
Port of Entry Encounters:
- A record 52,817 inadmissible aliens were encountered at Southwest border ports last month.
- A 4-percent increase over April, 53-percent rise over May 2023, and a 565-percent jump compared to May 2021.
CHNV Parole and CBP One App:
- More than 1.071 million aliens granted parole under the "CHNV Parole" and "CBP One app interview scheme".
- "CHNV Parole" allows up to 30,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to apply for parole each month.
- The CBP One app has increased daily port appointments to 1,450 as of June 30, 2023.
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