The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a record-breaking number of migrant encounters since the start of the fiscal year in October, exceeding 1 million encounters, according to recent statistics.

The data reflects encounters across multiple modes of transportation, including air, land, and sea, with a significant majority of these encounters occurring at the U.S.-Mexico border. This surge in numbers is pacing to break previous records, causing concern among U.S. officials and prompting efforts to address the issue.

Among the migrants, an alarming increase in Chinese nationals entering the U.S. illegally has been noted. More than 150 Chinese nationals have snuck into the U.S. every single day since October, representing a significant portion of the overall encounters. Last year, the CBP encountered over 37,000 Chinese migrants, but this figure has already reached nearly 20,000 since October.

In response to these figures, the Senate is working on a border bill aimed at reducing record levels of border encounters³. The details of this legislation are currently under discussion.

These statistics were released as part of the CBP's October 2022 Monthly Operational Update, offering insight into the challenges facing the agency and the broader issues of immigration and border security.

The surge in migrant encounters underscores the ongoing challenges facing the U.S.'s immigration system. As lawmakers work to address these issues, the CBP continues its operations, striving to maintain border security while ensuring the humane treatment of migrants.