The US Migration Service continues to record the flow of Russian migrants on a record scale. From October 2022 to February 2023, 25 thousand Russians crossed the border with Mexico into the United States, CBC reported, citing data from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Compared to the same period last year, the influx of illegal migrants from the Russian Federation increased by 3.5 times, and when compared with previous periods — increased by thousands of percent.
In fiscal year 2020 (October 1 & September 30), only 467 Russian migrants entered the United States from Mexico. In 2022, this figure reached 21.7 thousand people, and in the five months that have passed since the start of mobilization in Russia, the figure for the entire previous year was exceeded.
American border guards recorded the peak of the flight of Russians to the United States through Mexico in December 2022—almost 8 thousand people. In January and February, the flow decreased to 4.5–5 thousand, but remained 5 times higher than in the same months of 2022.
If the pace of illegal migration of Russians to the United States remains the same, U.S. border officials could face more than 60,000 Russian citizens crossing over from Mexico this year. This is three times more than last year and more than 60 times more than before the pandemic.
According to the US Department of Justice, in fiscal year 2023 (from October 1, 2022), the share of Russians who successfully obtained asylum in the United States was 63%, which is significantly higher than for citizens of other countries, say, Venezuela (38%) or Mexico (5%).
The US stopped deporting Russians last March after the outbreak of war with Ukraine. After the mobilization was announced, the United States said that Russian citizens who would seek asylum would have the opportunity to apply to the United States. However, in March 2023, reports emerged that Russians were still being denied asylum in the United States, citing the fact that fear of getting into war was not considered a basis for obtaining asylum.
It is possible to apply for asylum in the United States under one condition - you must first be able to set foot on US soil. In this regard, Russians come to Mexico, where it is easy to enter with an electronic permit, go to the US border, cross it, and then apply for asylum. After a short detention, which they have the right not to have, they are released on bail. Then the Russians are summoned to immigration courts, where they find out whether they have the right to remain in the United States. Asylum is granted to those who can prove persecution for race, religion or political opinion. Asylum cases can last for years. The record backlog of cases shows the average claim taking nearly five years to resolve, according to the Syracuse University Research Center.
Now entry into the United States from Mexico has become easier for Russians - pedestrian crossings at the border are open, they have the chance to pre-register in a special CBP One application, which allows them to cross the border without having to spend time in custody. In addition to CBP One, Russians are able to enter America legally through religious and human rights organizations - this procedure for crossing the border also opens up a way to avoid a period of detention.