U.S. Customs and Border Protection data has unveiled a staggering influx of illegal immigrants into the United States. Over the fiscal years of 2021, 2022, 2023, and up to February 2024, a whopping 9.4 million immigrants have illegally come into the United States. When including an additional 2 million “gotaways” reported by The Center Square, the total estimate skyrockets to 11.4 million individuals.
This surpasses the populations of 43 entire U.S. states and even eclipses the populations of major cities like New York City.
February 2024 marked a disturbing milestone with a record-breaking 256,094 illegal border crossings. Moreover, more than 120,000 individuals slipped through the cracks in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 alone, constituting an unprecedented surge. Notably, this surge isn’t confined to the southern border; unprecedented numbers are also pouring in through the northern border.
If this trend persists throughout fiscal 2024, we’re on track to witness the highest number of illegal border crossings in U.S. history, surpassing last year’s already record-setting figures. In fiscal year 2023, nearly 4 million individuals, including “gotaways,” were reported to have illegally entered the country.
“Gotaways” is the official term used by Border Patrol agents to describe foreign nationals who intentionally illegally enter the U.S. between ports of entry and don’t return to Mexico or Canada. CBP doesn’t publicly report gotaway data. The Center Square began reporting it to provide a more accurate picture of the number of illegal border crossers entering the U.S. every month under the current administration.
Illegal border crossers (fiscal years 2021 through 2024 through the end of February 2024) total more than 19 Wyomings, 17.5 Vermonts, 15.5 Alaskas, 14 North Dakotas, 12 South Dakotas, and nearly 11 Delawares, President Joe Biden’s home state. In June 2022, more than three million had illegally entered the U.S., totaling more than the individual populations of 23 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
By August 2022, that number had increased to more than the population of 25 states and more than 100 countries and territories. Now, they total more than roughly 150 countries, outranking the 83rd most populous country of Jordan with 11.3 million people. They total more than the populations of the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Sweden, Honduras, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Israel, Austria, Switzerland, Libya and Nicaragua.
This crisis has escalated dramatically following Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’s implementation of policies creating a so-called “legal pathway” for millions of foreign nationals who would otherwise be barred from entry. Despite facing legal challenges from over half of U.S. states, Mayorkas has continued to enact these controversial policies, leading to an unprecedented surge in illegal immigration that threatens the security and sovereignty of our nation.
