U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States hit a 13-year high in May.
“We are in full-blown emergency,” a Border Patrol official told Fox News on Wednesday.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported arresting nearly 133,000 illegal immigrants throughout the month of May, a level not seen in over 13 years. The number of illegal immigrants arrested increased by roughly 34% month-to-month following April’s 99,304 apprehensions.
“We are bursting at the seams,” a Customs and Border Protection official said. “It is unsustainable and can’t continue.”
“When we have 4,000 in custody, we consider it high, when we have 6,000, it’s a crisis,” a Trump administration official said. “Right now, we have 19,000 in custody. It’s just off the charts.”
The new numbers come as President Trump is threatening new tariffs on Mexico for lax immigration enforcement and allowing thousands of illegal migrants to pass through the country on their way to the U.S.
Trump threatened Mexico last week with 5% tariffs to increase by 5% every month up to 25% in October and stay in place until the “illegal immigration problem is remedied.”
