In Senegal, there are travel agencies that appear to be legitimate but are actually offering comprehensive packages to help migrants reach the US border.

Officials reported that "pseudo-legitimate" travel agencies are gaining popularity in Senegal, providing migrants with a "complete package" to reach the United States' southern border, where millions have attempted to enter the country illegally.

CBP officials are providing free travel to Europe for Senegalese nationals in cities like Dakar, Senegal.

Agencies that provide visa-free travel to Europe can then move to the Western Hemisphere and travel to the U.S., either by using the CBP One app to enter at a port of entry or by entering illegally between ports of entry in the hope of being released with a court date in the future.

The official stated that they offer comprehensive packages to link individuals with a smuggling organization, which will subsequently facilitate their transportation to the border.

CBP is collaborating with partners worldwide to facilitate access to protections while preventing exploitation of travel mechanisms.

The migrant crisis is a global issue, with migrants from various countries being drawn to the U.S.-Mexico border. Beyond Western Hemisphere countries, U.S authorities have encountered migrants from over 150 nations seeking to be processed and released into the interior.

The number of migrant encounters at the southern border in November was the highest on record, with 242,418 encounters, including those at ports of entry and those by Border Patrol between ports of entry. This is the third-highest month of the crisis so far.

Troy Miller, the acting CBP Commissioner, stated that the agency is facing a "serious challenge" and needs more resources from Congress as requested in the supplemental funding request.

Over three million cases are currently backlogged in immigration court, according to new data released this week from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University.

Since October, over 386,000 illegal immigrants have been released by Border Patrol with Notices to Appear.

The administration has been criticized by Republicans for releasing migrants into the interior and has been called upon to impose stricter limits on asylum and the use of humanitarian parole. In response, the administration has stated that it is dealing with a crisis across the hemisphere and requires additional funding and comprehensive immigration reform to address backlogs and repair a "broken" system.

The Biden administration is seeking additional funding, specifically $14 billion for border security, in ongoing negotiations in Washington. However, Republicans are pushing for stricter asylum policies, which some Democrats are urging the administration to reject.

There was hope of securing a deal before the year's end, but lawmakers have stated that the earliest possible date for a deal is January.

Planet Chronicle' Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.