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Congressman Guest Warns Number of Border Encounters Will Soon Surpass Population of Mississippi

May 20, 2022

Washington, D.C.  – In a Committee on Homeland Security hearing, Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) warned that the number of encounters on the southern border since President Biden took office will soon surpass the population of Mississippi.

“Total encounters under this [Biden] Administration, taking numbers since February of 2021, are 2,735,000 encounters — a number greater than the population of thirteen states — a number greater than the population of Vermont, Alaska, North and South Dakota, Delaware, Rhode Island, Montana, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, West Virginia, Idaho, Nebraska, and New Mexico. At the current rate, next month it will eclipse three additional states, including my home state of Mississippi.”

Customs and Border Protection encountered 234,088 immigrants in the month of April, which represents the highest levels in 22 years, over 10,000 more encounters than the Department saw in March, and almost 80,000 more encounters than the lowest number of encounters seen in FY22, which was recorded in January. At the current rate and with Title 42 set to expire, it is expected that the May numbers will bring the total number of encounters under President Biden to a total greater than the population of Mississippi, which stands at 2.982 million, according to the 2020 census.

Congressman Guest has been a vocal opponent of ending Title 42, stating in a tweet, “I’ve been to the border more times than the President. I’ve spoken directly to border patrol agents. They want Title 42, and Republicans are fighting to support them.”

Congressman Guest also joined Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-39) in the introduction of the Comprehensive Southern Border Strategy Act that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary to submit a comprehensive southern border strategy to Congress.

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Guest at CHS Hearing

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Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Currently serving his second term, Congressman Guest serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, as a Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and as a Member of the Committee on Ethics.

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