Border encounters surge to nearly 233,000 in August

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel encountered more than 230,000 people along the Southwest border in the month of August, marking a substantial uptick from the prior month. 

In total, CBP logged 232,972 encounters along the border, including 181,059 Border Patrol encounters between ports of entry. Roughly 11% of those individuals had previously encountered CBP in the past 12 months.

The August numbers mark a 27% uptick from July's 183,503 total encounters. The data comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the Biden administration's handling of the issue as more than 7 million people have illegally entered the U.S. under the current administration.

"Our operational tempo along the border has increased in response to increased encounters, and we remain squarely focused on our broader security mission and enforcing U.S. immigration laws," Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement.

"We are maximizing consequences against those without a legal basis to remain in the United States, including by processing more individuals into expedited removal than ever before," he continued. "The men and women of CBP continue to work, day in and day out, to protect our nation, disrupting the entry of dangerous people and dangerous goods into the country while providing humanitarian care for vulnerable individuals."

President Joe Biden enjoys an average 33.6% approval rating on immigration, according to RealClearPolitics. A further 62.8% disapprove of his performance on the issue.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.