Migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border increased in January, and almost doubled the number of encounters from January 2021, according to a court filing obtained by Fox News.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 153,941 migrant encounters in January 2022. In January 2021, there were 78,414 migrant encounters.
MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS INCREASED AGAIN AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN DECEMBER: COURT DOCS
The court filing also revealed that 62,573 migrants were released into the United States in January. In December 2021, there were 178,840 migrant encounters and 173,620 in November, according to Customs and Border Protection data.
SCHUMER JOINS DOZENS OF DEMOCRATS IN URGING BIDEN ADMIN TO HALT DEPORTATIONS TO HAITI, END TITLE 42
Under Title 42, the Trump era health order, which is used in a limited capacity to quickly expel migrants at the southern border, 78,486 migrants were expelled. 6,775 migrants were removed or returned under Title 8.
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More than 100 lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signed a letter to Biden, urging him to stop the use of Title 42 public health protections to expel migrants, in addition to calling for the administration to stop deporting migrants to Haiti.
"It is time to undo the United States’ draconian immigration policies, particularly policies introduced under the Trump Administration, such as the use of Title 42, that circumvent our humanitarian obligations," the letter states. "In addition to stopping removals to regions such as Haiti that face serious insecurity, we also urge you to take steps to address the systemic challenges Black migrants face to receiving equal treatment."
Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report.