by Ben Whedon
Border authorities encountered 211,401 migrants at the United States’ southern border with Mexico during the month of April, the latest report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicated.
That figure marked a 10% surge from the March total of 191,956. Total encounters at ports of entry specifically increased by 12% from March. CBP indicated that an increase from March to April is “typical” and noted that the figures marked an 11% drop from the previous April.
Roughly two-thirds, 67%, of encounters at the southwest border were with single adults. April totals for that metric went up 5% over March to reach 140,678.
“As part of our planning for the end of the Title 42 public health order, we have surged resources, technology, and personnel to safely and orderly manage challenges along the southern border – while at the same time, maintaining a persistent focus on our other missions to ensure national and economic security,” CBP acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement.
“The CBP workforce -including the U.S. Border Patrol and the Office of Field Operations- have the experience and professionalism to continue to adapt to changing dynamics. Along with the support of personnel from across DHS and across the federal government, we will continue to meet the moment,” he added.
The figures for April do not include any data that follows the expiration of the Title 42 order this month. Title 42 allowed border officials to swiftly deport migrants should they hail from a country known to host a communicable disease.
During the week leading up to the order’s expiration, migrant encounters reportedly hit record numbers with authorities catching more than 10,000 people crossing the border illegally per day.
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Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News.
Photo “24 Migrants Locked Inside Railcar Containers by Callous Smugglers Rescued by Del Rio Border Agents” by Chief Raul Ortiz.