Portman: October's Influx of Unlawful Migrants Breaks DHS Record

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released operational statistics showing that October 2022 was the worst October for border encounters in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) history which makes it clear that this administration must implement policies that will end the border crisis:

"This administration's border crisis only got worse this October with more than 230,670 border encounters, the highest of any October on record. In fact, this was the eighth month in a row of more than 200,000 unlawful encounters. Not even a late night dump of this data can hide the fact that the Biden administration's failed border policies continue to incite the highest levels of unlawful migration in our nation's history. The October CBP numbers also show more than 59,750 migrant family members; more than 158,630 single adult migrants; and more than 12,030 unaccompanied children.

"The October CBP operational statistics also show that fentanyl seizures increased yet again. This surge in illicit narcotics coming over our border continues to endanger communities in Ohio and throughout the country since the vast majority of fentanyl is coming across our southern border according to the DEA.

"Normally, unlawful migration would be decreasing over the colder winter months, instead we continue to see surging, record-breaking levels of encounters at the border. As I have told Biden administration officials countless times, they must act to secure our border -- now is not the time to incentivize unlawful migration by continuing their failed policies. At Thursday's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, I look forward to holding Secretary Mayorkas accountable for the influx of unlawful migrants and illicit narcotics and pressing him to implement policies to ensure our communities in Ohio and across the country can be safe and secure."

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