Daily US Times: The US government data shows that the number of migrants detained at the US-Mexico border in the month of July exceeded 200,000 for the first time in 21 years.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained a total of 212,672 migrants, including an all-time high of 19,000 unaccompanied minors.
This year, the number of migrants continues to rise in the US-Mexico border, despite the White House urging people to stay away.
Experts say many migrants are fleeing extreme poverty and violence.
The July data shows the highest monthly total attempted migrant crossing since April 2000 – the latest sign of the growing humanitarian crisis facing President Biden and his administration.
Historically, attempted migrant crossings have dipped during the hot summer months along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border.
But July’s numbers are a 13% increase from the previous month, when over approximately 188,000 migrants were detained by US Customs and Border Protection. 180,000 migrants were stopped in May in attempted crossings.
US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described the situation as “one of the toughest challenges” the country faces.
He said on Thursday: “It is complicated, changing and involves vulnerable people at a time of a global pandemic.”
The intense migrant crisis is also proving politically troublesome for President Joe Biden. An AP-NORC poll in May found that 54% of Americans disapprove of how the Biden administration is handling immigration issues.
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