WASHINGTON, DC – 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 a record number of border arrests in November as the United States continues to face a crisis at our southern border:
“The November CBP operational statistics show that the unlawful migration crisis is not seasonal but rather is a product of the Biden administration’s own policies. CBP reported more than 173,600 total encounters at the border in November, the highest November on record. This includes more than 44,000 migrant family members; more than 114,000 single adult migrants, a five percent increase over October; and more than 13,000 unaccompanied children, a nine percent increase over October.
“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. I call on Secretary Mayorkas to implement a plan to curb the influx of unlawful migrants and illicit narcotics so our communities in Ohio and across the country can be safe and secure.”
###