Thousands of migrants were encountered in a single day at the Brownsville Station, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. Border Patrol. In a statement issued on September 28, Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez emphasized the difficult tasks that agents are facing on a daily basis. She stated, "'Over 1,800 migrants encountered today'" and expressed her pride in the agents working tirelessly to manage the evolving situation.

These remarks shed light on the complex and ever-changing nature of the immigration situation along the Southwest border. Recent statistics released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for August 2023 further underscore the magnitude of the ongoing border crisis.

In August 2023, CBP recorded a staggering 232,972 encounters along the Southwest border, with a significant portion of 181,059 occurring between ports of entry. These figures highlight the enduring challenges and the escalating scale of the situation that has unfolded in recent years.

One significant development noted by CBP is the substantial decline in recidivism since the end of the Public Health Order under Title 42. Among the 232,972 encounters in August 2023, only 11% involved individuals with at least one prior encounter in the previous 12 months. This marks a remarkable reduction compared to the average one-year re-encounter rate of 14% for fiscal years 2014 – 2019 and the repeat encounter rate of 35% in August 2022. In April 2023, when the Title 42 Public Health Order was still in effect, repeat encounters accounted for nearly a quarter, or 23%, of overall encounters.

CBP's message to those considering illegal entry remains unequivocal: "Don't do it." CBP explains that those attempting to cross illegally put lives at risk. In August 2023 alone, the U.S. Border Patrol conducted 3,212 rescues, bringing the total number of rescues for Fiscal Year 2023 to 32,577 by the end of August.