The U.S. Border Patrol has seen a rise in individuals crossing the southern border in March compared to February, but numbers are down from this time last year.

According to a news release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there were 162,317 people who entered America between Ports of Entry. That figure accounts for a 25 percent increase from February to March, however, compared to data from last year, it’s down 23 percent.

"CBP works around the clock to perform our vital missions, including maintaining border security," said CBP Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller.

In March 2023, the number of single adult encounters increased by 19 percent compared to February, unaccompanied children increased 14 percent and family unit individuals increased by 38 percent. However, total encounters along the southwest border were down 14 percent from March 2022 and the rate of increase from February to March 2023 was less when compared to the same period in 2022.

Miller added the CPP will continue to respond to the challenges presented by increasing global migration as the agency works to protect the southern border from people hoping to enter the country illegally.  

He said, "CBP will continue to enforce our immigration laws and ramp up efforts to combat smuggler misinformation as we prepare to return to expedited removal proceedings under Title 8 authorities, which carry stricter consequences like a five-year ban on reentry and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful entry."

The report also indicated that 87,662 encounters were processed for expulsion under Title 42, which represents 46 percent of the total, while 104,238 encounters were processed under Title 8. Moreover, 27,783 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans were paroled into the country by CBP's Office of Field Operations through the parole processes established for Venezuelans in October and expanded to different nationalities in January.