Fact Check: The southern border of the U.S. is a major point of immigration.

Fact Check: "The southern border of the U.S. is a major point of immigration."

What We Know

The claim that the southern border of the U.S. is a major point of immigration is supported by extensive data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to a report from the House Committee on Homeland Security, there were over 140,000 border encounters in October 2024 alone, with more than 100,000 of these occurring at the Southwest border, which is the primary entry point for migrants into the U.S. (source-2). Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2021, CBP has recorded over 10.9 million encounters nationwide, with approximately 8.8 million at the Southwest border (source-2).

This influx has been characterized as a "historic" increase in encounters compared to previous years, where the total from FY 2017-2020 was only about 3.1 million (source-2). The data also indicates that a significant number of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) are being encountered, with over 500,000 recorded since FY2021 (source-2).

Analysis

The evidence clearly shows that the southern border is a significant point of immigration into the United States. The statistics provided by CBP and the House Committee on Homeland Security demonstrate a dramatic increase in encounters at the border, particularly at the Southwest border, which is the most trafficked entry point for migrants. The reliability of these sources is generally high, as they are official government reports that compile data from law enforcement agencies.

However, it is important to consider the context and potential biases in the presentation of this data. The report from the House Committee on Homeland Security is published under a Republican-controlled committee, which may influence the framing of the data to highlight perceived failures of the current administration's immigration policies (source-2). While the data itself is factual, the interpretation and implications drawn from it may reflect a partisan viewpoint.

Moreover, while the statistics indicate a high number of encounters, they do not necessarily reflect the total number of individuals attempting to cross the border, as many may evade detection. The term "gotaways" refers to individuals who successfully cross the border without being apprehended, and estimates suggest that this number could be in the hundreds of thousands (source-2).

Conclusion

The claim that the southern border of the U.S. is a major point of immigration is True. The data from CBP and other credible sources confirm that the Southwest border is the primary entry point for a significant number of migrants, with millions of encounters recorded in recent years. While the framing of this data may vary based on political perspectives, the underlying statistics substantiate the claim.

Fact Check: The southern border of the U.S. is a major point of immigration.