Fact check: How many illegal immigrants entered the u.s. during biden administration?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, border encounters during the Biden administration reached unprecedented levels. Multiple sources confirm that since Fiscal Year 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 10.8 million encounters nationwide, with 8.72 million occurring at the Southwest border ^[1]. Another source reports approximately 11 million border encounters over four years, with an average of nearly 160,000 monthly encounters ^[2].

The most comprehensive data indicates that from January 2021 to October 2024, there were 8.6 million migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border ^[3]. However, it's crucial to understand that these figures represent encounters, not unique individuals, as many encounters involve repeat crossers attempting multiple border crossings.

Regarding actual entries, one analysis estimates that more than 5.8 million migrants had been paroled in or otherwise allowed entry to pursue asylum applications as of July 2024 ^[3]. The total unauthorized immigrant population in the United States was estimated at 11.3 million as of mid-2022 ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several critical distinctions that significantly impact the answer:

• Encounters vs. Actual Entries: Border encounters include individuals who were apprehended and immediately expelled or deported, not just those who successfully entered the country ^[3]
• Repeat Crossers: Many encounters represent the same individuals attempting multiple crossings, inflating the total encounter numbers compared to unique individuals ^[3]
• Legal vs. Illegal Status: Some migrants were paroled in or allowed entry to pursue asylum applications, making their initial entry technically legal under U.S. immigration procedures ^[3]
• Historical Context: The question doesn't acknowledge whether these numbers represent an increase, decrease, or continuation of previous trends
• Policy Impact: Recent data suggests that unauthorized crossings at the southern border have plummeted in more recent periods, indicating policy changes affected these numbers ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains an embedded assumption that may lead to misleading conclusions:

• Conflating "encounters" with "entries": The question asks about immigrants who "entered" the U.S., but most available data tracks "encounters," which include many individuals who were prevented from entering
• Ignoring legal pathways: By focusing solely on "illegal immigrants," the question overlooks that many border crossers were processed through legal asylum and parole procedures
• Lack of comparative context: The question doesn't provide historical baselines, making it impossible to assess whether these numbers represent unusual patterns
• Political framing: The phrasing suggests all border activity during this period was inherently problematic, when immigration enforcement agencies and policies were actively managing and processing these encounters according to established legal procedures

The data shows that while border encounters reached historic highs, the actual number of individuals who successfully entered and remained in the country illegally is significantly lower than the total encounter figures suggest.