More Than 11 Million Have Illegally Entered U.S. Since Fiscal 2021

Total more than 43 U.S. states, roughly 150 countries.

Image: Foreign Nationals illegally enter the U.S. from Canada through the Swanton sector. Image Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Sector BP

By Bethany Blankley [The Center Square contributor] –

According to U.S. Customs and Border protection data, 9.4 million foreign nationals illegally entered the U.S. in fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023 and through the end of February 2024.

Including another more than 2 million gotaways, reported by The Center Square, combined, they total an estimated 11.4 million, more than the population of 43 U.S. states.

They also total more than the population of all individual U.S. cities, including the largest city of New York City, and are greater than the populations of roughly 150 countries.

With February’s record 256,094 illegal border crossers, and more than 120,000 gotaways in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the number of illegal border crossers in fiscal 2024 through February total more than 1.6 million, the highest in U.S. history.

Record numbers came through in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 both at the northern and southwest borders, the highest of any quarter and per month in U.S. history.

If fiscal 2024 numbers continue at the current trajectory, they will likely be the largest number on record, surpassing last year’s record.

Last fiscal year, nearly 4 million, including gotaways, were reported to have illegally entered the U.S., The Center Square first reported.

“Gotaways” is the official term used by Border Patrol agents to describe foreign nationals who intentionally illegally enter the U.S. between ports of entry and don’t return to Mexico or Canada. CBP doesn’t publicly report gotaway data. The Center Square first began reporting it to provide a more accurate picture of the number of illegal border crossers entering the U.S. every month under the current administration.

Illegal border crossers (fiscal year 2021 through fiscal 2024 through the end of February 2024) total more than 19 Wyomings, 17.5 Vermonts, 15.5 Alaskas, 14 North Dakotas, 12 South Dakotas, and nearly 11 Delawares, President Joe Biden’s home state.

Put another way, they total 29% of California’s entire population, nearly 37% of Texas’ population, and nearly half of Florida’s population, the country’s three most populous states.

They total 58% of New York’s population, 88% of Pennsylvania’s population, 91% of Illinois’ population and nearly as much as Ohio’s population. They total more than the eighth most populous state of Georgia and the rest of the U.S. states and territories.

The Center Square first reported on the number of illegal border crossers totaling more than the population of individual states. In the first six months of 2021, more than 1.1 million people entered the U.S. illegally, enough to create the tenth largest city in the U.S. and more than each of the populations of nine states.

By June 2022, more than three million had illegally entered the U.S., totaling more than the individual populations of 23 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

By August 2022, that number had increased to total more than the population of 25 states and more than 100 countries and territories.

Now, they total more than roughly 150 countries, outranking the 83rd most populous country of Jordan with 11.3 million people. They total more than the populations of the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Sweden, Honduras, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Israel, Austria, Switzerland, Libya and Nicaragua.

They also total more than double the populations of Finland, Norway, Lebanon, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ireland, Panama and Kuwait.

They more than triple the populations of Georgia, Uruguay, Jamaica and Qatar.

The numbers exponentially increased after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas implemented policies to create a “legal pathway” for millions of foreign nationals who otherwise would be prohibited from entry. More than half of U.S. states sued over them, arguing they are illegal. The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security identified over a dozen parole policies Mayorkas created that it argues are illegal included as reasons for which he was impeached last month, The Center Square reported.

About the Author: Bethany Blankley is a writer at the Center Square, Patheos/Hedgerow, political analyst and former press secretary at Capitol Hill / NY / WDC. Follow Bethany on Twitter@BethanyBlankley.