Headline RoundupJanuary 22nd, 2023

Record High Unauthorized Border Crossings Reported in December 2022

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Unauthorized migrant encounters hit a record high at the southern border in December 2022. 

The Details: Authorities reported around 250,000 total encounters, of which approximately 216,000 were unique encounters. The number is a 7% increase in total encounters from November 2022, 40% from December 2021, and 240% from December 2020. A surge in Nicaraguan and Cuban arrivals accounted for the highest number of arrivals since May 2022.  

For Context: The Biden Administration has been under intense scrutiny for its handling of the situation at the border, and President Joe Biden made his first border visit as president on Jan. 8th. The increasing amount of encounters comes amid the administration’s fight to scrap the Trump and pandemic-era Title 42, which allows the U.S. government to expel unauthorized migrants and asylum seekers. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the surge in Nicaraguan and Cuban arrivals can be at least partially attributed to migrants fleeing their own presidential administrations’ policies. 

How The Media Covered It: Across the spectrum, outlets reported the CBP statistics similarly, and highlighted how CBP says the surge shows "new border enforcement measures are working." Center- and left-rated sources generally focused more on the CBP’s statements regarding the border crisis. Some right-rated outlets, such as the Daily Caller, tended to place more emphasis on statements from Republican officials.

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