Illegal migration ticked up again in November to more than 233,000 encounters

Illegal migrant crossings at the U.S. southern border ticked up last month to more than 233,000 with growing waves from Cuba and Nicaragua offsetting a decline in Venezuelan aliens, the Customs and Border Patrol reported Friday.

While illegal migration continued to surge under President Joe Biden’s policies, officials said there was a marked shift in the nationalities of those crossing.

“Individuals from Mexico and northern Central America accounted for just 30% of unique encounters in November, a significant drop from the 53% they represented a year ago, as more migrants arrive from a variety of other countries, including Cuba and Nicaragua,” CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement.

“This month’s operational update reflects CBP’s dedicated workforce diligently enforcing our laws concerning immigration while seizing fentanyl and other contraband, ensuring America’s economic security and facilitating travel and trade," the statement continued. "It also reveals a return of international travel as compared to the depths of the pandemic and our commitment to effectively implementing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act as we mark the anniversary of its signing.”

In all, there were 233,740 encounters along the southwest land border in November, a 1% increase compared to October.

At least 16% of illegal aliens last month had at least one prior encounter in the previous 12 months, compared to an average one-year re-encounter rate of 14 percent for FY2014-2019.

According to the CBP, there was a rise of migrants fleeing to the United States from communist countries. 

"The large number of individuals fleeing failing communist regimes in Nicaragua and Cuba is contributing to an increased number of migrants attempting to cross the border," the statement read.

A special enforcement effort that sent Venezuelans back through Mexico had a significant impact in November, officials said.

"Venezuelans have dropped from roughly 1,100 a day the week before that process was announced, to roughly 100 a day consistently throughout November,"