For the first time in history, encounters between federal agents and immigrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border surpassed those occurring at official points of entry last month, according to newly released data. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations recorded 47,500 encounters in November, while U.S. Border Patrol reported 46,660 encounters, as shared exclusively with NewsNation.
Despite a decline of nearly 12,000 encounters from October’s total of 94,210, the distribution of these encounters indicates a notable shift in how migrants are entering the U.S., according to a former CBP agent.
Cost of illegal immigration reaches $151 billion as border policies face incoming overhaul
In October, immigration officials reported 106,344 encounters, with 56,530 occurring between designated ports, while the Office of Field Operations noted 49,814 encounters at ports of entry, as per the Department of Homeland Security data.
Once President-elect Trump assumes office in January, he and his “border czar,” Tom Homan, have committed to strengthening security at the southern border. Their plans include a mass deportation initiative targeting immigrants with criminal records who have previously been ordered to leave the country.
Homan stated during an interview with NewsNation that commencing the mass deportation effort is essential. He emphasized that failure to act would send a message globally that crossing the border illegally would not result in removal. “If it doesn’t happen, we’re sending out messages to the entire world; you can cross the border legally, which is a crime,” he warned.
This week, the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) released figures indicating that illegal immigration has cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $151 billion. As President Biden’s term nears its end, immigration officials anticipate a surge in border traffic as immigrants seek entry before Trump takes office.
Chris Clem, the retired Border Patrol chief of the Yuma, Arizona sector, attributed the record number of immigrants entering at ports of entry in November to the use of the CBP One app.
This mobile application, launched in 2020, allows immigrants to pre-register for immigration hearings before reaching the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump and Homan exclusively informed NewsNation of their intention to eliminate the app upon taking office to restrict access to the U.S.
In October, CBP announced plans to expand access to the CBP app, which previously allowed only those in northern or central Mexico to schedule immigration appointments. Since the update, non-Mexican citizens in southern Mexico have also gained access. Although hearings are scheduled randomly, priority is given to those who have registered on the app for the longest time.
Federal data indicates that approximately 1,600 individuals are using the CBP One app daily to cross the southern border at designated entry points.
Clem remarked that the ongoing surge of illegal immigration demonstrates that Biden is disconnected from American citizens who desire a more secure border. “The American people were tired of non-citizens getting in this country and getting a free ride,” Clem expressed.
According to Clem, the Biden administration believed that providing a legal pathway for immigrants through the CBP One app would resolve issues at the border.
The administration has highlighted a reduction in immigrant crossings since July, following an executive order from Biden aimed at enhancing border security. In October, CBP officials announced that illegal border crossings had decreased by over 70 percent from October 2023, when 188,749 crossings were reported.
However, Clem contends that the CBP One app facilitates entry for immigrants who would otherwise be considered inadmissible. He noted that CBP allocates 200 hours of manpower each month to process immigrants paroled through the app, leading to the reassignment of officers from other duties, such as drug enforcement aimed at preventing fentanyl smuggling.
