The number of migrants living in the United States awaiting asylum cases could reportedly surpass 8 million by the end of September, marking a record-high amid a surge of illegal immigration at the southern border. 

More than 8 million asylum-seekers are projected to be living in the country awaiting legal decisions and enforcement on whether they can stay or will be deported, according to internal government documents given to Congress that were obtained by Axios. The projection is far above the 3 million migrants who were in the same holding pattern in 2019, and it’s roughly a 167% increase over the last five years, according to the outlet.