Over the past week the U.S. has seen the biggest migrant surge at the southwestern border in 20 years.

The majority of the people are single adults and children traveling alone. With so many people under the age of 18 attempting to cross the border unaccompanied by an adult, it has created major congestion at the Border Protection holding facilities. There are more than 3,000 unaccompanied children being housed at the facilities, and more than half of them are being held beyond the three-day legal limit. The holding cells are not meant for children; the rooms are small with metal or cement benches, and there are no beds.

The number of unaccompanied minors keeps growing day by day. From the numbers growing every day the congestion in the holding facilities is not safe because they are not meant to house people for an extended period of time. The facilities are overcrowd and cramped. The children are given foil blankets to cover up with and the cells are so crowded that they are shoulder to shoulder when sleeping. Additionally, it has been stated that the children are not given suitable access to food or hygiene products such as soap, showers, and toothpaste. There are so many children being held that temporary tent facilities are being used to provide holding space.

Experts state that the reasons for migrants coming to the U.S can be for various. The biggest reason most attempt to cross over is due to poverty. Other reasons can include violence, natural disasters, job losses due to the pandemic, and even the back-to-back hurricanes that happened last year could play a factor in the surge. Other reasons that someone would attempt to cross over could be that they want a better education, living conditions, and more opportunities to find work.

President Biden is making efforts to help slow down the problem by dispatching top officials at the Mexico border. Additionally, they state that they are seeking ways to develop a humane and effective plan to manage migration. However, some people think differently on the subject, and two senators who represent the border states sent a letter to Biden encouraging him to step up  his efforts.