The Biden administration's approach to border security has drawn significant criticism, particularly regarding its handling of unlawful entries. Critics argue that the administration is manipulating data to downplay the severity of the situation at the southern border. A closer look at the numbers reveals a more complex and concerning reality.

The administration emphasizes a decrease in unlawful entries between official ports of entry, citing apprehensions by Border Patrol agents. However, this narrative omits a crucial element: the number of individuals deemed inadmissible at ports of entry by Office of Field Operations officers. This distinction is legally irrelevant, as both groups violate the same immigration laws. The administration's focus on Border Patrol apprehensions creates a skewed perception of the issue.

Furthermore, the administration's new border strategy, which encourages individuals to schedule appointments at ports of entry through the CBP One app, has been criticized for essentially facilitating unlawful entry. A high approval rate for applicants using the app raises concerns about its effectiveness in deterring illegal immigration. While this approach may divert the flow of people to controlled environments, it ultimately leads to the same outcome: the release of numerous individuals into American communities.

Another point of contention is the exclusion of certain groups from the official border encounter data. For instance, the data doesn't include individuals granted parole into the U.S. under the DHS secretary's authority. Critics argue that this parole program, intended for limited humanitarian or public benefit cases, is being misused on a large scale, further obscuring the true extent of immigration into the country.

Finally, the official data fails to account for "gotaways" – individuals who evade Border Patrol detection. While never officially included in DHS data, this group presents substantial security risks, especially given the current ease of entering American communities. The potential presence of individuals with malicious intent among those who successfully evade border security raises serious concerns.

A comprehensive analysis, including all these factors, paints a drastically different picture than the one presented by the Biden administration. Critics contend that the administration's policies are deliberately creating a crisis and call for greater transparency and accountability in addressing the situation at the southern border.