An average of 5,000 illegal immigrants are being released into the United States on a daily basis, according to a new report.
Department of Homeland Security officials told Arizona lawmakers that around 670,000 known “gotaways” got in at the border last fiscal year. The state lawmakers were also informed that an average of 5,000 illegal immigrants were released to non-governmental organizations, who give help to migrants, every day, according to a report from Fox News.
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Last fiscal year, FY23, saw a record-high 2.4 million encounters with migrants, with the final month of the fiscal year, September, seeing over 260,000 encounters. Over 440,000 encounters have occurred in FY24, according to officials.
Republican lawmakers have focused on the issue of border security for years, asking for the Biden administration to take action to secure the border. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), who represents an Arizona border district that is greatly impacted by illegal border crossings, has slammed the Department of Homeland Security and its shutting down of the international port of entry, which he said has made illegal crossings worse.
“It was a lose-lose,” Ciscomani told the Washington Examiner in an exclusive interview Thursday. “People that have homes on both sides — they need to cross for medical reasons or they need to cross for school, cross for shopping or trade and commerce and tourism. … There is zero upside to closing that Lukeville port. Trade has stopped. Tourism has stopped. Businesses on the U.S. side are seeing a 50 to 70% decrease in their sales.”
The issue of border security has led to a stalemate between Republicans and the Biden administration, which is seeking to provide financial aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Many Republican lawmakers have stated they will not vote for aid to Ukraine if funding to secure the border is not also provided.
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On Wednesday, the Senate voted against advancing Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) request for $111 billion in foreign spending with the tally being 49-51 — far below the 60-vote threshold needed to advance the request. Schumer described the vote results as “a sad night in the history of the Senate and in our country,” calling for his Republican colleagues to get “serious.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), meanwhile, has advocated for his fellow Republicans to not vote for aid to Ukraine until “meaningful changes to the border” are made. Prior to Wednesday’s vote, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said the White House should secure the border, which would lead to lawmakers in Congress “who will be willing to listen and to talk.”
