As per data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, approximately 9.4 million foreign nationals entered the U.S. illegally during fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and up to the end of February 2024.
Additionally, an estimated more than 2 million individuals, known as “gotaways,” were reported by The Center Square. When combined, these figures amount to an estimated total of 11.4 million illegal entries, surpassing the population of 43 U.S. states.
Furthermore, this total exceeds the population of all individual U.S. cities, including the largest city, New York City, and surpasses the populations of approximately 150 countries.
With a staggering 256,094 illegal border crossers recorded in February alone, along with over 120,000 reported gotaways in the initial quarter of fiscal 2024, the cumulative number of illegal border crossings in fiscal year 2024 up to February has surpassed 1.6 million. This figure marks the highest number of illegal border crossings in U.S. history.
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, unprecedented numbers were recorded at both the northern and southwest borders, marking the highest figures for any quarter and month in U.S. history.
If the current trajectory continues, the numbers for fiscal year 2024 are expected to surpass the record set in the previous year.
In the last fiscal year, nearly 4 million individuals, including gotaways, were reported to have illegally entered the U.S., according to initial reports by The Center Square.
The term “gotaways” is used by Border Patrol agents to describe foreign nationals who intentionally enter the U.S. illegally between ports of entry and do not return to Mexico or Canada. While CBP does not publicly report gotaway data, The Center Square began reporting it to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the number of illegal border crossers entering the U.S. monthly under the current administration.
The total number of illegal border crossers, spanning from fiscal year 2021 through the end of February 2024, exceeds the populations of 19 Wyomings, 17.5 Vermonts, 15.5 Alaskas, 14 North Dakotas, 12 South Dakotas, and nearly 11 Delawares, which is President Joe Biden’s home state.
To provide further perspective, these numbers amount to approximately 29% of California’s entire population, nearly 37% of Texas’ population, and nearly half of Florida’s population, the three most populous states in the country.
These figures surpass the populations of several individual states and territories across the United States. They represent 58% of New York’s population, 88% of Pennsylvania’s population, and 91% of Illinois’ population. Additionally, they exceed the population of Ohio and total more than the eighth most populous state, Georgia, as well as the rest of the U.S. states and territories.
The Center Square initially reported on the number of illegal border crossers surpassing the population of individual states. By June 2022, over three million individuals had illegally entered the U.S., exceeding the populations of 23 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
By August 2022, this number had risen to exceed the populations of 25 states, as well as more than 100 countries and territories.
Currently, the total surpasses the populations of approximately 150 countries, surpassing the 83rd most populous country, Jordan, with 11.3 million people. Additionally, they exceed the populations of the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Sweden, Honduras, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Israel, Austria, Switzerland, Libya, and Nicaragua.
Moreover, they exceed double the populations of Finland, Norway, Lebanon, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ireland, Panama, and Kuwait, and more than triple the populations of Georgia, Uruguay, Jamaica, and Qatar.
The surge in numbers saw an exponential increase following the implementation of policies by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, aimed at establishing a “legal pathway” for millions of foreign nationals who would otherwise be barred from entry. These policies faced legal challenges, with more than half of U.S. states filing lawsuits, contending that they were illegal. The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security highlighted over a dozen parole policies created by Mayorkas, which it deemed unlawful, citing them as grounds for his impeachment last month, as reported by The Center Square.
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