A group of over 100 migrants attempting to enter the U.S. illegally rush a border wall on March 21. Migrant encounters at the southern border declined slightly in April, border officials said. (James Breeden for New York Post / Mega)
Despite the decline, separate figures obtained by Fox News revealed there were 1.6 million known gotaways from fiscal year 2021 to fiscal year 2023. In the decade of FY 2010 through FY 2020, under former Presidents Obama and Trump, authorities recorded more than 1.4 million known gotaways.
Known gotaways are illegal immigrants seen or detected via cameras, sensors, footings, etc., but are never apprehended.
"If a person is willing to put themselves into harm’s way crossing through very remote, very dangerous conditions to evade capture, you have to ask yourself why. What makes them willing to take that risk?" Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens asked a House committee in May 2023.
BORDER PATROL OFFICIALS SAY THREAT POSED BY ‘GOTAWAYS’ AT SOUTHERN BORDER ‘KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT’
President Biden has recently touted the decline in illegal border crossings. Border authorities on Wednesday said the number of migrant encounters declined in April. (Getty Images)
"That’s of concern to me. What’s also of concern to me is I don’t know who that individual is," he added. "I don’t know where they came from. I don’t know what their intention is. I don’t know what they brought with them. That unknown represents a risk, a threat. It’s of great concern to anybody that wears this uniform."
In April, CBP processed 41,400 people through appointments at ports of entry submitted on the CBP One app, authorities said. Since the app was introduced in January 2023, more than 591,000 people have scheduled appointments to present at ports of entry, CBP said.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has been heavily criticized for the record numbers of migrants entering the U.S., has previously noted changes in migration flow in correspondence with Congress.
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"Before 2013, the majority of individuals attempting to cross the border entered without being caught," he said in a letter in January to the House Homeland Security Committee. "Under this administration, the estimated annual apprehension rate has averaged 78%, the same average rate of apprehension as in the prior administration."
Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
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