New DHS Data Shows Boundaries Worse Even Before Title 42 Ends

Border officials arrested 233,740 illegal immigrants at the southern border in November, setting a new record for the month and highlighting the chaotic situation even before the end of the Title 42 pandemic border deportation policy.

Homeland Security released the numbers in a Friday night data dump over the holiday weekend.

A large surge in immigration from Nicaragua and Cuba offset the decline of Venezuelans at the border. The number of solo and family trips has also increased.

Customs and Border Protection Acting Director Troy Miller tried to see the bright spots in the data, noting the relatively low numbers of immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

“Individuals from Mexico and northern Central America accounted for just 30% of unique encounters in November, up from 53% a year ago, as immigration from various other countries, including Cuba and Nicaragua, has increased. It has decreased significantly,” he said. He said.

Central Americans, who are subject to Title 42’s deportation policy, are easier to deal with than Cubans and Nicaraguans who are not subject to deportation, and instead are usually captured and quickly released. Analysts say the release and subsequent foothold in the US have incentivized more people to try.

Border guards said they had arrested 206,239 illegal immigrants sneaking in between ports of entry. CBP agents caught another 27,501 of him who had passed through an official border crossing without a permit.

Fewer than 30% of new arrivals were deported under Title 42 because the Biden administration scrapped the tool, even though it was still in effect.