CBP Releases New Border Numbers May 2022

Historic

Record-breaking numbers at the U.S. southern border.

Another historic month as the trend continues higher.

What To Know & Why It Matters

The Numbers: May 2022

Behind The Numbers

"As temperatures start to rise … human smugglers will continue to exploit the vulnerable populations and recklessly endanger the lives of migrants for financial gain."

CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus continued, “The terrain along the Southwest Border is extreme, the summer heat is severe, and the miles of desert that migrants must hike after crossing the border are unforgiving.” CBP has performed 14K+ life-saving efforts along the southwest border so far this fiscal year; that’s already more than all of last year, and nearly 3x the amount for 2019.

In CBP’s operational update for May, CBP Commissioner Magnus said: “Our message to those who would try and gain illegal entry to the United States remains the same — don’t make the dangerous journey only to be sent back.”

With May’s data, the total number of encounters for FY 2022 have reached more than 1.5M, a number on track to surpass last year’s record number of encounters (1.7M — the highest yearly figure ever recorded). In late May, a federal judge blocked the Biden admin’s planned lifting of Title 42. What happens next with this policy which allows for quick expulsions is TBD.