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Abstract
Nearly 1.7 million people have been detained after trying to cross the Southern border without authorization in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, the most detentions ever recorded. They came from more than 160 countries, often fleeing pandemic-related economic upheaval, with most coming from Mexico. A small percentage are Haitians who fled their homeland years ago and settled in countries such as Brazil and Chile. In a controversial move, the Biden administration has flown thousands of Haitians and others back to their home country under a public health emergency rule instituted by the Trump administration. The administration also is grappling with resettling tens of thousands of refugees evacuated to the United States after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.