Federal law enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border stopped 180,034 people who tried to enter the country illegally in May, the highest number in more than two decades, signaling a worsening of the crisis that has troubled President Joe Biden’s early tenure.

The May total, recording those who tried to get into the United States by sneaking in between land crossings or were denied entry at border checkpoints, was up from 178,622 in April and 172,331 in March. Roughly 8,000 of the 180,034 people whom border authorities encountered were denied entry at a port of entry, while the remainder went across the border through unfenced areas.

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