CNBNews

 photo courtesy of the United States Embassy in Uruguay 

The United States closely follows the migrant caravan, in which thousands of migrants from Honduras and other countries continue to make a dangerous journey through Guatemala and into Mexico. Many migrants are attempting to transit these countries and, in the process, are violating their sovereignty, laws, and procedures. As President Trump has stated, consistent with U.S. law, the United States will not allow illegal immigrants to enter or remain in the United States. - United States Embassy in Uruguay (October 2018)

They total more than the individual populations of 25 states and more than 100 countries and territories.

• By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor
• Aug 17, 2022

(The Center Square) – Since President Joe Biden took office and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas altered federal immigration policies, roughly 5 million people from over 150 countries have entered the U.S. illegally, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data and border agents who provide "got away" numbers to The Center Square.

"Gotaways" is the term CBP uses for those who’ve intentionally entered the U.S. illegally and evaded law enforcement who haven’t made asylum or immigration claims. While CBP collects "gotaway" data, it does not report that information publicly. The Center Square obtains that information from border agents themselves.

The 5 million figure includes 3.9 million who have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally nationwide and 3.4 million at the southern border. It also includes a minimum of 900,000 gotaways though that number is likely higher, Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officials have told The Center Square.

The estimated 5 million are now more significant than the individual populations of 25 states – up from 23 states reported in June.

They are greater than the estimated populations of Louisiana (4.6 million), Kentucky (4.5 million), Oregon (4.3 million), Oklahoma (4 million), Connecticut (3.6 million), Utah (3.3 million), Iowa (3.2 million), Nevada (3.1 million), Arkansas (3 million), Mississippi (2.9 million), Kansas (2.9 million), New Mexico (2.1 million), Nebraska (1.9 million), Idaho (1.89 million), West Virginia (1.7 million), Hawaii (1.4 million), New Hampshire (1.3 million), Maine (1.3 million), Rhode Island (1.1 million), Montana (1.1 million), Delaware (1 million), South Dakota (901,000), North Dakota (800,000), Alaska (738,000), Vermont (646,000) and Wyoming (579,000).

They are greater than the populations of all of the largest cities in the U.S., excluding New York City based on 2022 data. The number of people who have illegally entered the U.S. and been apprehended, released or missed total more than the individual populations of Los Angeles (4 million), Chicago (2.6 million), Houston (2.3 million), Phoenix (1.7 million), Philadelphia (1.5 million), San Antonio (1.5 million), San Diego (1.4 million), Dallas (1.4 million) and San Jose (1 million).

They also total more than the individual estimated populations of 100 countries and territories, including Ireland (4.9 million), New Zealand (4.8 million), Panama (4.3 million), Kuwait (4.2 million), Uruguay (3.4 million), Qatar (2.8 million) and many others.

In the first ten months of fiscal 2022, more foreign nationals were apprehended illegally entering the U.S. than those in fiscal 2021.

July’s numbers of roughly 200,000 officially reported by CBP but believed to be over 256,000 according to Border Patrol sources was the 17th consecutive month of more than 150,000 people being encountered at the southern border.

Also, in July, CBP reported that 10 people on the FBI’s terror watch list were apprehended between ports of entry, meaning they were considered gotaways evading law enforcement. This brings the total number of apprehended terrorists on the FBI watchlist to 66 for the current fiscal year.

While the Biden administration continues to maintain it’s deporting people under the Title 42 public health authority, in July, CBP expelled only 37% of foreign nationals illegally entering the U.S., a 7% drop compared to June.