Migrants from over 140 different countries apprehended at the border since October 

U.S. Custom Border Patrol agents have encountered migrants from more than 140 different countries at the southern border since October, according to the agency's top leadership.

Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Guatemala made up the top five nationalities out of the more than 900,000 undocumented migrants apprehended so far in Fiscal Year 2023, which began in October of last year, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz told lawmakers. 

At least 225,476 migrants apprehended came from Mexico, followed by 116,878 from Cuba, 94,197 from Nicaragua, 71,629 from Colombia, and 68,204 from Guatemala. 

So far, in FY23, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 900,590 individuals from 147 countries. The top 5 nationalities Border Patrol Agents encountered are listed below. pic.twitter.com/GqawsZjee5

— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) March 15, 2023

The Border Patrol Chief’s comments come after the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the figures for migrant encounters at the border in February.

Last month, Border Patrol agents encountered 154,998 undocumented migrants, down from the 166,010 encountered in the same month last year and lower than the 156,770 encountered in January 2023.

However, the number still remains significantly higher than the 101,099 migrants encountered in February 2021 and the 36,687 encountered in 2020. 

The CPB said that 71.4% of the February encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border consisted of single adults. Additionally, 46/8% of those adults were deported under Title 42, the Trump-era policy that allows border agents to expel migrants to prevent the spread of COVID-19.