Fact check: How many immigrants entered illegally during Biden s administration daily?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, 8.6 million migrant encounters occurred from January 2021 through October 2024 during the Biden administration ^{[1] [2]}. To calculate a daily average, this represents approximately 6,200 encounters per day over the roughly 46-month period.

However, it's crucial to understand that encounters are not equivalent to illegal entries. The sources indicate that many encounters involved repeat crossers ^[2], meaning the same individuals were counted multiple times. Additionally, encounters include individuals who were processed and potentially expelled or returned, not necessarily those who successfully entered and remained in the country illegally.

The border situation reached a historic high of nearly 2.5 million encounters in fiscal year 2023 ^[2], indicating significant fluctuation throughout the administration rather than a steady daily rate.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several critical pieces of context:

• Policy implementation details: The Biden administration implemented various border management policies including the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule and continued use of Title 42 for a period ^[2]. These policies significantly affected encounter numbers and processing methods.
• Comparison with previous administrations: One source provides comparative analysis between Trump and Biden administration policies, noting Biden's efforts to reverse Trump-era policies while facing criticism from both immigration advocates and Republicans ^[3].
• Legal pathway initiatives: The administration implemented a "carrot and stick" approach, encouraging legal immigration pathways while imposing strict penalties for illegal crossings ^[3].
• Resource and diplomatic constraints: Border management was shaped by litigation, diplomatic relations, and resource constraints ^[2], factors not reflected in simple daily numbers.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question contains an inherent bias by conflating "encounters" with "illegal entries". This distinction is significant because:

• Many encounters result in immediate expulsion or return, not successful illegal entry
• Repeat crossers inflate encounter numbers without representing unique individuals
• The question implies a consistent daily rate when the data shows significant fluctuation over time

One source makes dramatically different claims, stating the administration "let in 12 million people" and "destroyed immigration law" ^[4], which represents a highly partisan viewpoint that benefits conservative political narratives. This contrasts sharply with the more measured analyses from migration policy experts.

The framing of the question also benefits those seeking to portray immigration as an uncontrolled crisis, potentially serving the interests of political opponents of the Biden administration and organizations that profit from anti-immigration sentiment through fundraising and political mobilization.