Many of the migrants are now coming in groups, often with more than 100 people per group entering in the past few months. Border officials say these large groups create opportunities for smugglers since border agents get distracted dealing with so many people at once.

Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Kevin McAleenan says the February border arrests were the highest number since 2010.

"The current system isn't working," Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. "These increases will overwhelm the system entirely, this is not a manufactured crisis, this is truly an emergency."

During the 2018 fiscal year, border agents and officers seized 1.1 million pounds of marijuana, 282,570 pounds of cocaine, 6,552 pounds of heroin and 2,463 pounds of fentanyl. The AP reports the fentanyl seizures were up nearly 70 percent from the last budget year.

"It should be very clear from these numbers that we are facing alarming trends in the rising volumes of people illegally crossing our southwest border or arriving at our ports of entry without documents," McAleenan said.

Border officials have stated the increase in migrant families has overwhelmed border agents and strained facilities. According to McAleenan, their efforts to accommodate are not sustainable, stating the system "is well beyond capacity and remains at the breaking point."

Customs and Border Patrol plan to build a new processing center in El Paso, Texas, but McAleenan states it is not a permanent fix.

"While our enhanced medical efforts will assist in managing the increased flows, the fact is that these solutions are temporary and this solution is not sustainable," he said.

McAleenan went on to fault the "vulnerabilities in our legal system" as the reason for the increase.

President Donald Trump has faced increased resistance for his declaration of a national emergency for the crisis. His attempt to solve the situation has been met with harsh criticism.

The Republican-held Senate is expected to reject his declaration, joining the Democrat-led House of Representatives. President Trump is expected to veto the measure and allow the courts to decide. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Revival Grips Brazil's Amazon: 'God Is Everything for Me'

More Arson? Investigators Sift Through Ashes at Landmark 173-Year-Old Church Searching for Clues

Shocking Survey: More than Two-Thirds of Gen-Z Don't Know What America 250 Commemorates (Video)

US House to Vote on Bill Making Daylight Savings Time Permanent

What to Know About Darline Nordone, Lindsey Graham's Sister Appointed to Fill His Seat

Amid Renewed War against Iran's Islamic Regime, the Country's People Once Again Take to the Streets in Anti-government Protests

US Pounds Iranian Targets After Blockade Reimposed; Trump Scraps 20% Fee for Trade Deals

'Abundant Life': Study Finds Bible-Reading Is Better Self-Care Than Exercise

A New Low: Doctors Are Now Making the Case for Death by Organ Donation

Trump Administration Launches Anti-Predator Initiative for Schools K-12

US Targeting Islamic Republic Army Bases, Strikes IRGC Nuclear Town; People of Iran React to Sen. Graham's Death

Cause of Death Revealed for Lindsey Graham, Pro-Life Champion and Strong Defender of Israel

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71

'The Way, The Truth and The Life': Direct Descendant of Muhammad Now Follows Jesus

Food for Thought: The Rich Do Not Get Rich at Expense of the Poor [Video]

Mamdani Erases Little Italy ... and (Of Course) the Jews

A Lesson from King David, and a Call to Prayer from Give Him 15

Prayer Alert: Israel Has Informed the US of Another Specific Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump

Marco Rubio Steps in After Tim Walz Pardoned Illegal Alien Child Rapist before Deportation

Prosecutors Present Texts of Alleged Confession by Tyler Robinson in Hearing for Charlie Kirk Murder