The US Border Patrol has reported that over 73,000 migrants have crossed the southern border in the last 10 days, with an additional 17,000 illegal migrants avoiding detection and entering the country. Customs and Border Protection also confirmed that in the same time frame, at least 16,985 people were recorded as “gotaways” who were either spotted by agents or caught by motion sensor cameras but unable to be apprehended.

The number of apprehended people at all US borders in the last 72 hours alone is 22,220, according to US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz. Thousands of people are reportedly handing themselves in daily to agents at the southern border in attempts to claim asylum and start a new life in the US. However, under the pandemic-era policy known as Title 42, most are processed and sent back over the border, which puts a significant strain on resources. Title 42 is set to end on May 11, and officials have predicted that this will lead to a significant increase in the number of migrants attempting to cross the border illegally.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stated that the federal government is expecting up to 13,000 illegal immigrants to cross the US-Mexico border each day after Title 42 expires. In response to the crisis, Texas began busing migrants to sanctuary cities, and the state plans to continue this program until the border is secured. The situation is dire, with officials expecting anywhere between 12,000 to 40,000 migrants who have been waiting on the Mexican side to cross into the city when Title 42 ends.

In the last ten days, agents were able to stop 19 sex offenders, six gang members, and one convicted murderer from entering the country. They also seized over 2,624 pounds of drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, meth, fentanyl, and heroin, according to Border Patrol statistics for both southern and northern US borders.