How Many Immigrants Came to the United States in 2021
The number of immigrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year (FY) 2021 was almost 1.1 million. This number represents a significant increase from the previous fiscal year. However, a large portion of the migrant population who entered the United States in FY 2021 avoided apprehension. Additionally, the number of aliens seeking humanitarian protection was reduced in FY 2021.
1.1 million people crossed the border
There have been over 1.1 million unique individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the year 2021, according to the Customs and Border Patrol. While these numbers are impressive, they do not necessarily represent more migrants crossing the border than in previous years. However, they do reflect a significant increase from the past few years.
A number of politicians and immigration advocates have expressed concern about the administration’s response to illegal border migration. The apprehension rate of 43 percent was the highest in almost 30 years, and a record number of migrants were apprehended in the previous year.
The administration’s policy of increasing the use of formal deportation and other consequences for apprehended migrants has contributed to the increase in the numbers. DHS officials estimate that the recidivism rate for unauthorized migrants in the United States is at least 38 percent.
In April and May, the number of apprehensions by Border Patrol increased sharply. This was despite hot temperatures. It is not unusual for the total number of apprehensions to be higher during the cooler months.
Despite the increase in the total number of apprehensions, there has been a decrease in the number of apprehensions for those who tried to enter the country legally. For example, 212,672 encounters were recorded in July, but these figures do not include those who attempted to cross the border.
Another significant change has been the influx of Latin American, Caribbean and South American countries. More than 40% of the total population of apprehensions in the last year came from these countries. Several factors may have influenced this shift. One was the end of the Migrant Protection Protocols.
400,000 unauthorized migrants avoided apprehension
The number of unauthorized immigrants who avoided apprehension in the United States increased by more than ten percent in fiscal year (FY) 2021. This figure is a big increase from the number that entered the country legally in FY 2018. However, it is important to note that these numbers do not necessarily reflect the number of people who entered the country illegally.
The total number of apprehensions in the United States was more than 1.1 million in FY 2021. A large portion of the increase can be attributed to recidivism, or the number of people who cross the border multiple times.
In particular, the number of single adults crossing the U.S.-Mexico border reached its highest level in at least a decade. As of the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, single adults made up 64 percent of the total apprehensions.
Aside from apprehensions, the number of encounters with migrants at the border also increased. Border Patrol agents encountered more than 1.2 million migrants in the first six months of the fiscal year. These encounters include both apprehensions and expulsions.
Aside from the increasing number of encounters, the number of apprehensions in FY 2021 was notably higher than the numbers in FY 2019. While these numbers are impressive, they do not match the figures of the previous fiscal year, or even the year before.
1.6 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in FY 2021
Border agents apprehended more than 1.6 million migrants in the fiscal year ending in October, the highest annual total in nearly 20 years. A large number of the migrants who crossed the border illegally were from Latin America. However, more migrants arrived from other parts of the world.
The most common source of migrants was Mexico. However, the number of individuals arriving from other countries increased dramatically in 2021. Among the nationalities, Mexican nationals accounted for 78 percent of all migrants, while those from Northern Triangle countries, such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, made up 19%.
During a period of economic downturn in many of these countries, the resulting food insecurity and poverty led many to attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. As a result, the Border Patrol encountered more “unique individuals” at the border than in the past.
Despite the increase in encounters, the number of unique individuals crossing the border is likely less than it was in 2000. This could be because the “repeat” crossings of recidivist migrants were not caught. Instead, they were turned back by the Border Patrol.
In fact, the recidivism rate in 2021 was higher than in 2000. This reflects the fact that many of the people who entered the United States illegally in 2021 were apprehended and sent back to Mexico. There are a number of reasons for this. Some of them include programs instituted by the former president of the U.S., Donald Trump, that could be driving this trend.
COVID-19 restrictions decreased the number of aliens seeking humanitarian protection
In February, well over half of all border crossers were families and children looking for protection. This increase follows a sharp increase in fear of persecution and torture.
Refugees are among the most vulnerable members of society. They face extreme hardship, lack access to basic services, and lose their livelihoods. But, they also have a right to protection. The United States promotes self-sufficiency, encourages voluntary return to home, and supports local integration in the first asylum countries. However, deportation of undocumented breadwinners can create financial strains.
In the United States, there is a backlog of over 1.1 million unresolved asylum cases. Many migrants have been removed multiple times. Deportations can also be traumatic for families. Therefore, the Biden administration must manage increased migration flows in a rights-respecting manner.
For example, refugees who seek expedited removal must express a credible fear of persecution or torture. DHS Asylum Officers conduct interviews with credible fear of persecution applicants. These cases are then reviewed by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the President.
If approved, the refugee receives International Protection status, which does not provide a pathway to citizenship. It also does not provide protection from deportation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 79 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced each year. About three-quarters of this population is hosted in low-income countries.
While the Biden administration continues to expand its processing capacity for asylum seekers, it is imperative to maintain the dignity of those who are forced to leave their homes. A recent study found that 16,250 asylum seekers were waiting in nine Mexican border cities in February 2021.
Seasonal migration patterns have changed in recent years
The recent years have seen a number of migratory patterns change. Some of the changes are attributed to climate change. Others are attributed to human activity.
Among the most obvious are seasonal migration patterns. During the winter, many birds that nest in the Northern Hemisphere migrate south. They stay longer in their summer destinations and leave earlier in the spring.
Several other species show different patterns of migration. Scientists use several techniques to study population movements. For instance, they use banding and satellite tracking to analyze patterns.
Other types of migration include urban and rural mobility. Urban migrants may face a variety of issues. These include language barriers, lack of access to housing and health care services, and a lack of community participation. Migration is also influenced by cultural factors.
Climate change has been identified as a driving factor in migration from Central America to the United States. A team of scientists is working to understand how these migration patterns might change in the future.
Changing migratory behavior could have implications for other species. For instance, the eagle has taken to flying north more than flying south.
Another example is the yellow-browed warbler. Although it is a rare bird, this species has been observed migrating westward to Europe.
However, this does not mean that all migratory birds are adaptable to climate change. In fact, some migratory species are threatened by population declines.
USCIS Asylum Division’s adjudicating capacity
The USCIS Asylum Division’s adjudicating capacity is set to grow by nearly a fifth in the next four years. For this reason, the department has introduced a spate of efficiency measures in the hopes of expediting the process. This includes the hiring of some of the most seasoned immigration judges in the nation. Aside from a few teething issues, the Asylum Division is well positioned to handle the onslaught of pending claims.
In short, the AOD has the requisite personnel and the necessary infrastructure to efficiently and efficiently complete a large number of case applications in the coming years. The division is also in the enviable position of being able to allocate funds to a number of initiatives that have been put in place over the past several years. Among these are the aforementioned improvements in the field offices.
A few months ago, USCIS announced that it had reopened a number of its offices following the COVID-19 pandemic. This feat, along with an array of new office upgrades and administrative controls, has boosted the agency’s case processing capacity by a full percentage point. Additionally, the AOD has implemented a plethora of other efficiency measures to address the backlog of pending claims.
With this in mind, it is not surprising that the Asylum Division has already received a number of requests from Congress for a dedicated funding source to address this issue. However, a solution is unlikely to be forthcoming before fiscal year 2021.