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The number of Chinese migrants being encountered in a key sector of the southern border is exceeding that of Mexican nationals, a trend ongoing for years that has renewed national security concerns.
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data obtained by Fox News shows that Chinese nationals are the second-largest nationality encountered at the border in San Diego Sector since the fiscal year began in October.
There have been 21,000 Chinese nationals encountered, second only to Colombia (28,000). Third is Mexican nationals with 18,000, followed by Brazil (8,700) and Ecuador (7,700). Other countries of origin include Turkey, Guinea, India, Guatemala and Peru.
7.2M ENTERED THE US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES
Chinese migrants speak to a Border Patrol officer before being processed after they crossed the Rio Grande into the U.S. on May 5, 2022, in Roma, Texas. (Brandon Bell)
Fox reported this week that between Saturday and Monday there were 452 Chinese nationals apprehended by Border Patrol in the San Diego Sector alone — more than the entirety of FY 2021 across the whole border.
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The number of Chinese nationals has been increasing since fiscal 2021. In fiscal 2022, numbers increased to more than 2,000 border-wide. In fiscal 2023, that number then surged to more than 24,314.
CHINESE MIGRANTS POURING ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER SPARK NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS
Migrants are encountered by Border Patrol in San Diego Sector on February 17, 2024.(Fox News)
It’s an increase that has raised national security concerns from both Republican lawmakers and border officials — noting that China is a geopolitical foe and raises the specter of a potential avenue for espionage.
Brandon Judd, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents all rank-and-file Border Patrol agents nationwide, told Fox News last week that the majority of the Chinese border-crossers are single adult males of military age.
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“That is a very scary prospect. We know that China does not like us, we know that we are in the crosshairs of China,” Judd said.
Immigration activists have also noted that China is a country with a repressive government and from which citizens would naturally try to flee and seek asylum.
CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ON PACE TO BREAK RECORDS AT US SOUTHERN BORDER
But China is also one of a number of special-interest countries, from which nationals are supposed to see extra vetting by authorities. San Diego has seen many nationals from those countries.
Fox reported this week on CBP data that shows thousands of nationals from Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have arrived at the border in the San Diego Sector.
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Overall, more than 140,000 illegal immigrants have been encountered in the sector since October.
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Border-wide, there have been more than 961,000 migrant encounters this fiscal year after a record-setting 2.4 million in fiscal 2023. December saw a record 301,000 encounters, followed by a sharp drop to 176,000 in January.
Gas prices are much higher than Trump claimed in Tennessee.
Analysis of President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address
USA TODAY’s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page takes a closer look at President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address.
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President Donald Trump bragged about low gas prices for drivers during State of the Union address.
Only 8 out of 150,000 gas stations are selling gas below $2 a gallon. TN gas prices are much higher.
President Donald Trump bragged about low gas prices during his State of the Union address Feb. 24, but prices are considerably higher than he claimed — even in Tennessee, where gas usually costs less than the national average.
AAA.com’s national average gas price stands at $2.98, almost an entire dollar-per-gallon higher than Trump’s claims of gas costing “$1.99 in some states” based on CNN fact checking. Here’s how Tennessee’s actual gas prices compare to Trump’s claims.
How much does gas cost in Tennessee compared to Trump’s claims?
Tennessee’s current gas price is $2.56 a gallon, according to AAA. That is about 57 cents higher than the prices Trump said gas cost in some states during his State of the Union address. It is also 26 cents higher than the $2.30-per-gallon price Trump claimed was common in most states, according to CNN.
Tennessee is one of the few states selling gas for under $2.60 a gallon. In fact, the Volunteer State has some of the lowest gas prices in the nation as of late February. TN average gas prices are down 24 cents a gallon year-over-year from $2.80 a gallon.
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State gas prices have been on the decline in recent weeks. In contrast, some American drivers are paying over $4 a gallon for gas in 2026.
States with the highest gas prices in 2026
State
Gas Price according to AAA
California
$4.63
Hawaii
$4.40
Washington
$4.35
Oregon
$3.92
Nevada
$3.71
States like Oklahoma ($2.43), Kansas ($2.54) and Mississippi ($2.52) boast low gas prices, but the national average remains high.
While Trump touts gas prices under $2, national average is closer to $3
Petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan, released a statement titled, “The Real State of Fuel Prices,” before — and after — Trump’s address, which pointed out that the average price nationally for gas is closer to $3 a gallon.
In case you missed it: Here’s everything Trump said about cars in the State of the Union
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In his State of the Union speech, Trump said gas “reached a peak of over $6 a gallon in some states under my predecessor,” calling it “a disaster,” and added “it is now below $2.30 a gallon in most states. And in some places, $1.99 a gallon.”
A few weeks ago in Iowa, he claimed he even “saw $1.85 a gallon for gasoline.”
Gas prices, De Hann said, are lower on average than they were a year ago, but sub-$2 gas is “extremely rare.” Moreover, he pointed out that a president — whether to blame or credit — has limited control over the price of gasoline.
What a petroleum analyst says about Trump’s gas price claims
Gas prices did reach $1.85 a gallon in early January in Iowa De Haan said, but prices there “have since risen” and “at this moment, only 8 out of roughly 150,000 gas stations nationwide are selling gasoline below $2 a gallon.”
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Of those, four stations are in Texas, one is in Oklahoma and three are in Kansas.
De Haan also said that the lowest statewide average is $2.33 a gallon in Oklahoma, and that for about a month, prices at certain stations in Colorado “fell well below $2 per gallon, with some dropping into the $1.60s.”
But they were “highly localized competitive events.”
Mostly, De Haan pointed out, gas prices are determined by the global oil market, and partly by weather. Lower oil prices now, in contrast to when Biden was in office, means lower gas prices.
In addition, a surge of oil production by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel of oil-producing countries, has put downward pressure on prices. The freezing weather this winter has, too.
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Frank Witsil of The Detroit Free Press contributed to this story.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
A middle school in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD is closed Friday after an outbreak of norovirus.
According to the school district, they closed Creekview Middle School in Fort Worth on Friday to sanitize and clean the building. The district said they plan on reopening the school on Monday.
The district said children started to get sick on Tuesday with what appeared to be a stomach virus and that on Wednesday it spread to a larger group.
EMSISD said they reached out to the Tarrant County Public Health Department and that they recommended disinfecting and cleaning the school on Wednesday night and reopening the next day.
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More cases continued to be reported on Thursday, so the public health department then recommended that they clean again and close the campus on Friday.
Parents were notified of the district’s decision on Thursday afternoon.
The district has not said how many students and staff were sickened in the outbreak.
Officials with Children’s Medical Center said that because norovirus is highly contagious and resistant to many common hand sanitizers, it presents a unique challenge for families.
The hospital says hand sanitizer isn’t enough and recommends thorough hand washing with soap and water. They also recommend parents keep their children home for a full 48 hours after symptoms stop to prevent further outbreaks.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are approximately 2,500 norovirus outbreaks in the United States each year and that they are most common from November through April. For further tips on preventing the spread of norovirus, visit the CDC.
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.
The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).
As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.
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Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?
Click here for more details.
Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot
Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
