CBP pleads for aid as more than 242,000 people arrive at southern border in November

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than nearly a quarter of a million encounters at the southwest land border in the month of November, the agency confirmed Friday, while insisting that authorities stationed along the Mexican frontier need additional support from Congress.

In total, CBP reported 242,418 arrivals at the southern border in November, including 191,113 between ports of entry. The figures represent a modest uptick from the October numbers of 240,988 total and 188,778 between ports of entry.

The agency processed 43,000 individuals at ports of entry using the CBP One app.

"CBP continues to execute its important mission to protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation's economic prosperity by implementing operational plans, surging personnel and decompressing areas along the southwest border while processing and vetting migrants who are encountered humanely, safely, and efficiently, consistent with our laws," said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy A. Miller.

"We are facing a serious challenge along the southwest border and CBP and our federal partners need more resources from Congress — as outlined in the supplemental budget request — to enhance border security and America’s national security," Miller continued. "Despite ongoing challenges, in November, the men and women of CBP continued their tireless work and recorded increased seizures of illegal narcotics while facilitating lawful trade and increased holiday travel."

The agency's November update further highlighted the increase in drug trafficking at the southern border, noting that drug seizures increased 35% from October. Methamphetamine seizures surged 55%, heroin seizures increase 7%, and fentanyl seizures went up 8%.

President Joe Biden requested funds to bolster border security in a supplemental funding package this year that also included substantial amounts in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Republicans, for their part, have deemed the administration's border proposals insufficient and sought to pair aid to Ukraine with major reforms to the asylum system and border enforcement more broadly. Any resolution to that impasse will likely not develop until the new year as Congress has left Washington for the Christmas break.

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