Illegal encounters at southern U.S. border hit record 178,840 for December 2021

Illegal encounters at the southern U.S. border hit a record 178,840 for December 2021, according to Customs and Borders Protection statistics, marking a 2% increase compared to November. 

"Two-thirds (64 percent) of encounters were single adults, with 114,993 encounters in December, a 4 percent decrease compared to November," the CBP announced Monday.

The figures for the southern border mark the highest totals for a December in the past five years.

Illegal encounters at the southern border this fiscal year have reached 518,360, which is larger than the total for the entire 2020 fiscal year.