Migrants at southwest U.S. border grow to pre-pandemic numbers

The number of children and adults crossing the southern U.S. border has grown to number not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Numbers grew more than 100 percent in the first two months of 2021, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Children crossing alone grew 60 percent to more than 9,400.

Nearly 75 percent of all the 100,000 crossings on the southern border in February were single adults.

The Biden administration has rejected entry to nearly all single adults due to the coronavirus public health order, the AP reported.

Children and families are being held temporarily in government and private facilities while officials review asylum applications.

Hurricanes, economic instability due to the pandemic, and human rights issues have led many more from Central America to make the arduous journey north.

Biden is asking Congress for $4 billion for targeted aid to nonprofit and community organizations in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to try to ease some of the conditions that compel migrants to leave.

Biden is facing criticism from Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott who has blamed him from the growing "crisis" on the border.

The liberal American Civil Liberties Union has also criticized Biden for not issues visas to diversity visa recipients who were denied them because of Trump's Muslim ban.

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