Airports: Gateway For Illegal Immigrants?

The US has seen a large influx of migrants in recent years, with border officials encountering 11 million unauthorized migrants attempting to enter the country between October 2019 and June 2024. While the majority of these encounters occur at the US-Mexico land border, a significant number of migrants also enter the US via airports. From January to August 2023, more than 200,000 migrants entered the US as part of the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) program, utilizing over 50 airports across the nation. This has led to concerns and criticism from some politicians and the public about the number of illegals entering the country through airports.

The US-Mexico border has seen a significant increase in illegal crossings under President Biden

However, it is important to note that the number of illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border reached its lowest point under President Biden in September 2024. US Border Patrol agents recorded nearly 54,000 apprehensions of migrants who crossed into the country between legal entry points, the lowest number since August 2020. This decrease in illegal crossings is attributed to the Biden administration's implementation of strict new asylum policies, which sharply limited who could seek refuge in the US. These policies resulted in a 78% reduction in border crossings compared to December 2023, when a record 250,000 migrants attempted to cross the border without authorization.

The Biden administration's new rules disqualify most migrants who cross the border illegally from seeking asylum. This has led to a sharp decline in migration and a significant reduction in the number of people released into the US while awaiting immigration hearings. The policies also accelerate deportations, with over 70% of migrant families and adults apprehended being sent back to their home countries.

While the Biden administration has been successful in reducing the number of illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border, the issue of immigration remains a highly debated topic in American politics. Republicans have criticized President Biden's immigration policies as being too lenient, while some Democrats in border states have also expressed concern about the administration's handling of the situation.

The CHNV program allowed 200,000 migrants to enter the US via 50 airports

The CHNV program, short for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan program, was launched in January 2023 by the Biden administration. It was designed to allow certain individuals to enter the US, namely those with domestic sponsors and who pass background checks. The program aimed to provide "safe and orderly pathways to the United States" for up to 30,000 nationals on a monthly basis.

Between January and August 2023, over 200,000 migrants entered the US via 50 airports as part of the CHNV program. The top 15 airport locations and the number of inadmissible aliens who flew into a port of entry during this period were:

• Ft. Lauderdale, FL: 60,461
• New York City, NY: 14,827
• Houston, TX: 7,923
• Orlando, FL: 6,043
• Los Angeles, CA: 3,271
• Dallas, TX: 2,256
• San Francisco, CA: 2,052
• Washington, D.C.: 1,472
• Las Vegas, NV: 483

The remaining airports used for the program are located in Aruba, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte Amalie, Cincinnati, Columbus, Charlotte, Dublin, Denver, Detroit, Fresno, Fort Myers, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Montreal, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nassau, New Orleans, Oakdale, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh-Durham, Sacramento, San Juan, Savannah, San Antonio, San Diego, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Jose, St. Paul, St. Louis, Toronto, and Vancouver.

The CHNV program has been controversial, with critics arguing that it is unlawful and constitutes an abuse of constitutional authority. There have been concerns about the lawfulness of the program and the individuals being accepted into the US, particularly due to increased numbers of southern border apprehensions involving people from these countries. As of mid-October 2023, there were 1.6 million inadmissible aliens awaiting travel authorizations through the CHNV program.

It is important to note that the term "illegals" is considered derogatory and dehumanizing when referring to migrants or undocumented individuals. The more appropriate term is "undocumented immigrants" or "undocumented individuals."

Border encounters are not a true count of individuals staying in the US

The data also includes both Title 8 Apprehensions and Title 8 Inadmissibles. Apprehensions refer to the physical control or temporary detainment of a person who is not lawfully in the US, which may or may not result in an arrest. Inadmissibles refer to individuals who are seeking lawful admission into the US but are determined to be inadmissible, as well as those who withdraw their application and return to their home country.

Additionally, the data may not accurately represent the number of unique individuals encountered. For example, the data includes people encountered more than once during a reporting period, which may result in an overcount. Furthermore, in the case of family units, it is not always possible to differentiate between family unit individuals and single adults, which can also lead to an overcount of family unit individuals and an undercount of single adults.

It's important to note that the data is extracted from live systems and is subject to change due to corrections, systems changes, changes in data definition, or additional information. Final statistics are typically available at the conclusion of each fiscal year.

The US Department of Homeland Security estimates there were 11 million illegal migrants in the US as of January 2022

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates there were 11 million illegal migrants in the US as of January 2022. This estimate is based on data from border encounters, refugee and asylee figures, as well as migrant sample surveys, interviews, and other statistical methodologies. The number of illegal migrants in the US is challenging to determine, as it includes those who entered the country undetected and those who overstayed their temporary visas.

Border encounters refer to instances where individuals are apprehended trying to cross the border illegally or deemed inadmissible at official ports of entry. Between October 2019 and June 2024, there were nearly 11 million border encounters, with monthly encounters peaking at over 370,000 in December 2023. However, these encounters do not necessarily reflect the actual number of people attempting to cross the border, as some individuals may try multiple times during the same fiscal year.

The DHS separates border encounters into three categories: apprehensions, inadmissibles, and expulsions. Apprehensions refer to individuals temporarily detained by the US Border Patrol for crossing the border illegally. Inadmissibles are individuals seeking legal admission but found ineligible, including those seeking humanitarian protection. Expulsions were migrants denied entry under Title 42, a COVID-19 public health measure in effect from March 2020 to May 2023.

While border encounters provide valuable data for estimating illegal migration, they do not capture the full picture. For example, between October 2020 and June 2024, 81.3% of encounters occurred at the US-Mexico land border, while the remaining 18.7% occurred via sea and air in states without international land borders. Additionally, not all encounters result in individuals entering or remaining in the country. The number of illegal migrants in the US is influenced by various factors, including push factors such as violence and economic instability in home countries, and pull factors such as a strong US economy and weak points in immigration enforcement.

In recent years, there has been a focus on addressing illegal immigration and securing the US-Mexico border. Government policies, such as the use of Title 42 expulsions during the pandemic, have had mixed results, with encounters continuing to increase despite these measures. The complex nature of immigration and the dynamic factors influencing it present ongoing challenges for policymakers and enforcement agencies.

The number of illegal border crossings has been influenced by US policies and the pandemic

The number of illegal border crossings into the US has been influenced by a combination of US policies and the COVID-19 pandemic. Between October 2019 and June 2024, there were nearly 11 million unauthorized border encounters, with monthly encounters peaking in December 2023 at over 370,000 people. This high number of encounters has strained the US immigration system.

The pandemic influenced border crossings when, in March 2020, the Trump administration invoked Title 42 to authorize border expulsions in the interest of public health. This policy allowed border officials to expel migrants to their home countries or last non-US location without the opportunity to apply for asylum. The Title 42 public health order ended in May 2023, and encounter numbers gradually rebounded and then surged 66% between February and March 2021.

US policies have also influenced the number of illegal border crossings. The Biden administration has been accused of using unlawful mass-parole programs to shift the burden of border encounters from the southern border to other parts of the country. The CHNV (Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan) mass-parole program, launched in January 2023, has allowed more than 400,000 "inadmissible aliens" to enter the US through airports and be released into the interior. This has contributed to a surge in illegal crossings at the northern border, as migrants seek to evade apprehension.

In June 2024, President Biden signed a proclamation to temporarily suspend and limit the entry of certain noncitizens at the southern border, citing high numbers of encounters straining the immigration system. This proclamation made it more difficult for noncitizens who enter the US unlawfully to claim asylum and increased the consequences for those who do so. These stricter immigration enforcement measures send the message that migrants should use safe, lawful, and orderly pathways to enter the US.

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