Unprecedented Surge: Venezuelans Surpass Mexicans in US Illegal Border Crossings
Venezuelans surpassed Mexicans as the largest group of nationals arrested for illegally crossing the U.S. southern border in September, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The number of encounters at the border increased by 21% from August, with Venezuelans accounting for 54,833 arrests, more than double the previous month. This shift in migration patterns reflects a change from Mexicans being the majority of illegal crossings to an increase in Central Americans, South Americans, Africans, and Asians. The Biden administration recently granted temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans already in the U.S. but has vowed to deport those who come illegally after July 31. The administration has also increased resources and personnel at the border to address the historic migration.