The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a record-breaking number of illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border, with 240,988 incidents recorded in October alone. The report also highlighted that 13 individuals on the FBI’s terror watchlist were arrested, 12 from the southern and one from the northern border. In a specific instance, Arizona saw a surge in illegal crossings from Mexico, with 17,500 arrests made in one week in November, an increase from the previous week’s 15,650.
This unprecedented number of encounters is projected to surpass 2.4 million for the fiscal year 2023, exceeding the previous year’s record of 2.3 million. These figures are being attributed to President Joe Biden’s border policies, which are perceived as weak and inviting by critics. Sheriff Mark Lamb of Pinal County, Arizona, recently expressed his concerns in a YouTube video, claiming that individuals who cross the Arizona border illegally receive a $5,000 gift card, cell phones, and plane tickets funded by American taxpayers.
Lamb emphasized that the majority of these individuals are military-aged men from various countries, including China and Africa. He expressed astonishment at this revelation and criticized the allocation of taxpayer money for these benefits, especially when average Americans are struggling financially. Lamb urged people to be aware of these practices and to demand action from their representatives.
Lamb, who is running for the United States Senate, criticized the Biden administration’s indirect funding of these benefits through non-government institutions, suggesting a manipulation of funds.
The financial impact of illegal aliens, particularly asylum seekers, on the U.S. government is estimated at $451 billion annually, as per a House Committee on Homeland Security report. The surge in illegal crossings has led to the closure of the port for legal crossings, severely impacting Mexican-American families living near the border.
Stephanie Fierro, a café employee in Sonoyta, Mexico, expressed her frustration over the border closure, which is affecting her family’s daily life. Arizona officials, including Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs, have criticized the federal government’s response, labeling it an “unmitigated crisis.” Hobbs, along with Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, has called for the reopening of the Lukeville crossing, threatening to deploy the National Guard if necessary.
Arizona Republicans have also criticized the Biden administration for its immigration policies, holding them responsible for the border crisis and urging Gov. Hobbs to deploy the National Guard.
