CBP deploying more agents to US-Mexico border amid influx of migrants

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is deploying more agents to the US-Mexico border as the agency continues to face a growing number of migrants, an agency spokeswoman told CNN.

Stephanie Malin, a CBP spokeswoman, said more than 300 agents, including those that were part of an initial deployment earlier this year, are being moved primarily from Northern and Coastal sectors to provide support. Malin didn’t disclose the specific number or locations, citing law enforcement sensitivities.

The deployments come after US authorities encountered more than 100,000 migrants, including families and unaccompanied children, on the US-Mexico border in February, straining resources and overwhelming facilities originally designed for adults.

The number of unaccompanied migrant children in border facilities on Sunday, 5,767, was the highest since the federal government began releasing data last week. The overall number of unaccompanied migrant children in US government custody, however, ticked down slightly from more than 18,000 children last Thursday to around 17,650 on Sunday, the data shows.

Internal government estimates previously obtained by CNN indicate that the Biden administration could need at least 34,100 additional beds to keep up with the projected number of unaccompanied children arriving at the US-Mexico border through September.

The Biden administration is also asking federal workers to volunteer to help with “urgent efforts” to care for and place unaccompanied migrant children.

Last week, nearly a dozen retired Border Patrol chiefs called on congressional leaders to provide additional resources and take steps to reform the US immigration system in a letter shared with CNN.

This story has been updated with additional information.