South
Migrant encounters at southern border set new record for October: data
Migrant encounters at the southern border hit the highest ever number for October last month, with more than 240,000 people encountered, officials announced on Tuesday — despite a slight decrease in numbers from September.
There were 240,988 encounters at the border in October, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said. That’s higher than the 231,529 recorded in October last year and the 164,837 encountered in 2021. In Oct 2020, there were just 71,929 encounters.
The number is down from the 269,735 encounters in September, which marked the highest monthly total ever. FY 23 saw a record 2.4 million encounters overall.
STATE AGS URGE SPEAKER JOHNSON TO EXPEDITE BILL GIVING STATES POWER TO TACKLE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Migrants cross the Rio Grande at the US-Mexico border in Piedras Negras, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Alejandro Cegarra/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The latest numbers show that, despite a broad strategy in place from the Biden administration after the end of Title 42 in May that it says combines “consequences” for illegal entry with expanded lawful pathways, numbers remain stubbornly high.
In a release, CBP said it remains “steadfast” in enforcing immigration laws, including with new technology and resources, as well as greater use of authorities like Expedited Removal and an asylum rule which limits asylum claims for those who have crossed illegally. The administration also started deportation flights directly to Venezuela last month, a move it says is already having an effect.
“In conjunction with our resumption of removal flights to Venezuela consistent with delivering consequences for those who cross the border unlawfully, CBP saw a 65 percent decrease in southwest border encounters of Venezuelans in the second half of October, compared to the second half of September,” acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement.
He also pointed to a 14% decrease in illegal entries between ports of entry between September and October, and an overall decrease in family units.
GOP LAWMAKER SOUNDS ALARM ON ‘DANGEROUS’ THREAT TO US COMING FROM POROUS BORDER, AND IT’S NOT FROM MEXICO
Republicans have blamed the ongoing migrant crisis on the Biden administration’s border policies — particularly its rolling back of Trump-era border wall construction, a greater use of humanitarian parole and a reduction of interior enforcement. The Biden administration has said it needs comprehensive immigration reform and more funding to fix a “broken” system. Most recently the White House requested $14 billion for border operations.
“The President’s supplemental budget request is critical to funding the frontline, and would provide much-needed personnel, resources, and technology to go after transnational criminal organizations, enhance border security – including the enforcement of consequences for those who break the law – and support state and local partners, all to keep Americans safe,” Miller said.
The call for more funding and immigration reform is one that Republicans have dismissed. In an interview with Fox News Digital on Tuesday, House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green called it “the biggest lie I have ever heard.”
“The resources were the same in the previous administration. The dollars were the same, and the immigration laws were the same. The problem is that they broke the system by undoing the policies that had been implemented by the previous administration,” he said, pointing to the rollback of policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). “So it is a big lie to say they need more resources or that immigration laws need to be fixed–they’re not even following the immigration laws that are in place right now, so why would Congress just pass more law if they’re not going to follow it anyway? So that is a fallacy, it is a talking point so that they can continue their open border.”
In terms of the greater use of parole by the administration, the agency says that 44,000 migrants were paroled into the U.S. in October using the CBP One app, which allows migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry. There have been nearly 324,000 appointments scheduled on the app since January.
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Meanwhile, there were 13 Border Patrol arrests of people on the terror watchlist in October, 12 at the southern border and one at the northern border.
The numbers come a day after Republicans in the House failed in an attempt to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Eight Republicans joined with Democrats in voting to table the measure to impeach the secretary for his handling of the border crisis.
The Atlanta Falcons aren’t quite starting over, but there is a lot of new involved with the organization from the top down. One of the factors that made the Falcons an enticing job when nearly 1/3 of teams in the league had head coach openings was the core of young playmakers that had been acquired through years of high draft picks.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was one of those players, taken with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He deputized Kirk Cousins as a rookie before taking over the job full-time with three games remaining. He didn’t quite grow into the bona fide franchise quarterback in year two, before suffering an ACL injury that sidelined him after Week 11.
With a new front office and coaching staff in place, who didn’t draft Penix, NFL Network’s Nick Shook rightly placed Penix Jr. among his 11 players around the league who are in a make-or-break season. Penix is battling both Tua Tagovailoa and his recovery timeline to win, and more importantly, solidify a starting job in Atlanta.
“When he does take the field, though, the pressure will be on,” Shook wrote on NFL Network. “As a former top-10 pick whose brief success as a rookie largely pushed Kirk Cousins out of Atlanta, Penix will be expected to prove he’s continuing to develop, something he struggled to demonstrate in his second season before it ended abruptly with his third ACL tear. Hopefully, he’ll have most of the season to try to make it happen. Otherwise, questions regarding his future will only grow.”
Early mock drafts had the Atlanta Falcons picking an offensive tackle in the top 10 next season. But the fatal flaw in that logic is if the Falcons are selecting top 10 next season, they’ve failed at the quarterback position, and will be targeting a new quarterback in the 2027 draft.
Shook is right, this is potentially a make-or-break year for Penix, but he’s not alone. Let’s take a look at five more Atlanta Falcons who are facing pivotal years.
What about Tua?
It’s not just Penix. The Miami Dolphins took on an NFL record $100 million dead cap hit rather than keep Tua Tagovailoa on the roster. Tagovailoa, still just 28, has a chance to revive his career under Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta and be the next Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield. But if he can’t win and hold onto the job over Penix, he may be seen as a career backup, at best, moving forward.
Remember that guy who single-handedly beat the Saints?
To borrow a line from Coach Carter – “We don’t see Troy Andersen much, but when we do, it’s spectacular.”
Andersen was last seen wrecking the New Orleans Saints in September of 2024. He had 17 tackles, a pick-six, and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was also hurt in that game. He made a brief attempt at a comeback, but like too many Falcons in the last two years, he was re-injured and hasn’t played since Week 14 of 2024.
Because he missed so much time, his contract didn’t move forward, so the Falcons still had rights on his rookie deal. They restructured it, and he’ll get one final chance to prove he belongs in the NFL.
The new guy
Atlanta signed Jahan Dotson, hoping to improve its lackluster wide receiver room. Doton’s numbers are nothing to write home about. He has 478 yards receiving in the last two seasons combined. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Buried on the depth chart behind DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, targets were hard to come by for Dotson.
He’ll get the chance to prove in Atlanta that he’s a legit WR2 in this league and drastically improve on the $7.5 million the Falcons are paying him this season.
Can a Four-Year Starter be Make-or-Break?
Left guard Matthew Bergeron is in a contract year. He has been solid, if not spectacular, as a three-year starter. Like many of the players on offense, he regressed in 2025. His rookie contract got him a raise from $1.6 million last season to $3.9 million in 2026.
26 guards make at least $10 million per season, according to Spotrac. If Bergeron can establish himself this year as a better-than-average player at his position, he’ll triple his money again next year.
Boom or bust on the DL
Like Bergeron, defensive lineman Zach Harrison is entering a contract year. He was in the midst of a breakout season last year with 3.5 sacks in the first six games. He was injured against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7.
He missed two games before some roster mismanagement saw him return and play a career high 47 snaps against the Colts after returning from injury. He was reinjured and didn’t take another snap all season.
He’s an ideal fit as a pass-rushing 3-4 defensive end and can do a job kicking inside to defensive tackle every once in a while.
But he’s got to stay on the field.
Honorable Mention: CB Clark Phillips III, DT Maason Smith, LB Christian Harris
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta’s new pro-hockey team is preparing to unveil its logo and name. The hockey team is working to build a strong fan base across the CSRA before it even hits the ice. Supporters say it will be fun and a place for family and friends to come together.
Locals in Augusta have had the opportunity to participate in choosing the teams logo and name for their upcoming season. This gave the community an opportunity to be a part of something that will grow to be huge here in the city.
“This is Augusta’s team, and we want to make an impact on the ice and off the ice in the community. But really have a place where people can come for great, affordable fun, and then we can do great things off the ice as well to positively impact the community. “, says David Hodges, Co-Owner of the Augusta Pro Hockey Team.
Having the new sports team present the name and logo unveil has almost made a sold-out event. With 2,100 plus seats being RSVP’d prior to the start of the event.
The new team will not take the ice until the 2027-2028 season, but excitement is already high. The name and logo reveal event is set for this evening at the Augusta Convention Center (2 10th Street, Augusta, GA 30901), with doors opening at 5:30 PM and ending at 8 PM. You can click here to RSVP for tonight’s event.
Photojournalist: Dania Alawir.
Starting Tuesday, those who’d like to check out the museum can reserve tickets online 30 days in advance of visiting. The timed-entry tickets are free, aside from a $1 service fee per reservation.
Now is the time to act if you want to be one of the first people to experience D.C.’s newest museum.
Tickets are now available for the museum underneath the Lincoln Memorial, which opens to the public June 25. The timed-entry tickets are free, aside from a $1 service fee per reservation.
Starting Tuesday, those who’d like to check out the museum can reserve tickets online 30 days in advance of visiting.
Individuals can reserve up to six tickets per transaction. Once the museum opens, free, same-day tickets will also be distributed starting at 8:45 a.m. at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk on Daniel Chester French Drive, just south of the Lincoln Memorial, according to the National Park Service, which noted supplies will be limited and demand is expected to be high.
The museum features 15,000 square feet of exhibit area and will introduce visitors to a “dramatic, previously unseen space beneath the memorial,” the park service said in a news release.
“This cavernous structural chamber contains a soaring grid of concrete columns that support the memorial above and offers a striking view of the engineering that made the iconic monument possible. The experience will feature interactive displays and a multimedia presentation that explores how the memorial’s meaning has evolved over the last century,” the park service said.
Exhibits will not only tell the story of the memorial’s construction and Lincoln himself, they will also explore the memorial’s long-standing role as the backdrop for protests, rallies and, perhaps most notably, demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement.
“So to tell that story in a more full manner, in a museum of this size, I think is going to be really important,” park service spokesman Mike Litterst told WTOP last year.
WTOP’s Luke Lukert contributed to this report.
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