Illegal immigration hits record high of 3.2 million as large groups travel to US on freight trains

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a record high of 3.2 million illegal immigrant encounters over fiscal year 2023, as officials say that large groups of migrants are traveling to the U.S. via freight trains.

Border Patrol encountered more than 340,000 illegal immigrants trying to enter the United States in September, according to data released over the weekend by Customs and Border Protection, marking the highest number of encounters for any month before. This number does not include "gotaways," or people who were not apprehended when they crossed the border into the United States.

Over fiscal year 2023, which spanned from Oct. 2022 through Sept. 2023, U.S. authorities encountered more than 3.2 million immigrants, including the nearly 2.48 million who were encountered at the southern border alone.

Notably, officials also found a record number of people on the terror watchlist who attempted to enter the United States, with 487 encounters on the northern border with Canada and 249 along the southern border during fiscal year 2023.

Customs and Border Protection "surged resources and personnel" across the southern border in response to the high rates of encounters, acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said. 

"We are continually engaging with domestic and foreign partners to address historic hemispheric migration, including large migrant groups traveling on freight trains, and to enforce consequences including by preparing for direct repatriations to Venezuela," Miller also said.

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