In May, over 3,500 Chinese nationals were encountered crossing the southern border illegally, along with hundreds of Jordanian, Turkish, and Mauritanian nationals, according to Customs and Border Protection sources. The majority of these encounters occurred in the San Diego Sector, which has become a key crossing point despite a decrease in overall border numbers. The Tucson Sector in Arizona saw the most encounters, with over 33,000 illegal crossings, while San Diego was a close second with over 32,000. The global nature of the U.S. migrant crisis is highlighted by the presence of nationals from various countries crossing into the country illegally.
The San Diego sector recorded over 770 Jordanians, more than 670 Turkish, and over 500 Mauritanian nationals crossing illegally in May. This diverse mix of nationalities underscores the growing complexity of the U.S. migrant crisis, which now extends beyond the Western Hemisphere. The influx of Jordanian nationals came into focus when two individuals from Jordan were arrested for attempting to breach Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The increase in encounters with Chinese nationals has been significant, with numbers skyrocketing from FY 2021 to FY 2023 and continuing to rise in the current fiscal year.
In May, approximately 118,000 migrants crossed the U.S. border illegally and were apprehended by Border Patrol, including over 6,300 “special interest aliens” from countries of potential national security concern. The ongoing crisis at the border poses a major challenge for President Biden’s re-election campaign, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledging that some migrants are attempting to exploit the U.S. asylum system. Mayorkas has called for reforms from Congress, including support for a bipartisan border security bill that aims to address the issue of individuals trying to manipulate the asylum process.
The Biden administration has faced criticism from Republicans for rolling back Trump-era policies such as wall construction and the Migrant Protection Protocols, as well as for a perceived lack of interior enforcement. Republicans have passed legislation in the House to restrict asylum claims and restart border wall construction, but the bill has not been taken up by the Senate. Mayorkas has emphasized the need for tools to address individuals who are attempting to abuse the asylum system, pointing to the administration’s efforts to remove or return illegal immigrants since May 2023, surpassing previous annual totals.
The border crisis remains a top political issue as the U.S. heads into the November presidential election. Mayorkas’ acknowledgment of some migrants attempting to exploit the asylum system reflects a shift in rhetoric from the administration, as it grapples with the challenges posed by illegal immigration. The administration’s efforts to address the crisis through removals and returns, as well as calls for congressional reforms, highlight the complexity of the situation at the southern border. The continued influx of migrants from various countries underscores the need for comprehensive and effective border security measures to address this ongoing challenge.
