Migrant Backlog to Reach 8 Million by October

According to government data, the population of migrants living in the United States will reach 8 million by October.

Key Details: The backlog includes migrants who don't have final decisions from U.S. officials on their asylum, or are facing deportation, but aren't being held in the limited detention spaces. The estimate would represent a 167% increase over the last five years.

Key Quote: “It ends very simply, that’s with a president of the United States who will actually fulfill their oath of office to enforce the laws of the United States of America, that means denying illegal entry into the country,” said Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX).

For Context: Last December, a backlog of 3 million migrants was reported, and many of these migrants were given court dates several years away. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been considering border actions such as tightening asylum regulations. Without extra funding from Congress, however, these restrictions are difficult to enforce.

How the Media Covered it: The New York Post (Lean Right bias) said the increase was "driven by President Biden's border crisis". Axios (Lean Left bias) said the news was "a sign of how the underfunded and outdated U.S. immigration system can't keep up with the rapidly growing migrant population driven by new border surges."