September had the most border encounters of all time with over 260,000, setting monthly and yearly record

Reports have suggested that U.S. agencies experienced the highest number of border crossings at the southwest land border in a single month in September 2023, which would also push the yearly numbers past all-time records.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources provided Fox News correspondents Bill Melugin and Griff Jenkins with initial border crossing numbers that have yet to be officially released.

"Per CBP sources, initial data for September shows there were over 260,000 migrant encounters at the border, making it the highest single month ever recorded. This, as a government shutdown looms which would result in Border Patrol agents & CBP officers not being paid," Melugin wrote.

"The previous highest month was this past Dec [with] 252,320," Jenkins noted.

An additional 260,000 would push 2023's fiscal year total to an all-time high as well, at over 2.466 million. The previous year saw 2.378 million, while 2021 was significantly lower at 1.734 million. President Trump's last year in office saw comparatively low numbers, with just over 458,000 for all of 2020.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently claimed the president has taken "historic action" to control illegal immigration, the Washington Examiner reported. "The president has worked very hard to implement a strategy, when it comes to the border, that is humane, safe, and has orderly enforcement," she added.

However, when a reporter asked, "How many people coming into this country is enough for President Biden?" the press secretary replied, "Enough for what?"

The White House spokeswoman was unwilling to answer similar questioning from reporter Peter Doocy, who asked, "What do you call it here at the White House when 10,000 people illegally cross the border in a single day?"

Melugin also reported that "in late August" Jean-Pierre claimed that the White House was "stopping the flow" at the southern border.

Elon Musk visited the border at the end of the record-setting month to see the chaos firsthand. The billionaire noted that some rather extreme individuals were entering the country. The entrepreneur called the situation "insane" and mentioned that he saw a migrant who had "face tattoos including tears," which meant "they have murdered someone and they are so proud of having murdered someone that they tattoo one tear on their face for every one person that they killed."

Musk visited the town of Eagle Pass, Texas.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!