The number of Chinese nationals apprehended by Border Patrol agents after illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is currently higher by more than 800% compared to the same period last year.

A senior Customs and Border Protection (CBP) source told Fox News that there had been 1,862 Border Patrol encounters with Chinese nationals between October, when the fiscal year started, and the end of December, compared to 229 recorded in the same period in the fiscal year 2022, which would be more than 700% increase. 

In December 2021, only 64 Chinese nationals were apprehended. But last December, Border Patrol agents encountered 931 Chinese nationals. A Department of Homeland Security source also told Fox News that the Rio Grande Valley sector had 15 Chinese nationals in custody as of Wednesday, all adults ranging in age from 20s to 50s.

Sources told the outlet that Chinese nationals are usually processed for expedited removal unless they claim they have a credible fear of persecution if returned to the country.

Many Chinese nationals claim that fear as a result and are subsequently being released into the U.S., with a notice to appear for a court date for their immigration hearings. It was reported in November 2019 that Border Patrol agents encounter Chinese nationals on a regular basis, according to Valley Central.

Agent Dustin Araujo, Special Operations Supervisor for U.S. Border Patrol, said at the time that smugglers will profit more from smuggling Chinese nationals as compared to migrants from Mexico or Central and South America.

READ NEXT: TikTok Banned? Texas Reveals Plan to Prevent TikTok Download, Use

Chinese Nationals Paid Smugglers

Earlier this month, three Chinese nationals were apprehended and admitted to paying smugglers $35,000 to cross into the U.S. illegally. Texas DPS Trooper Lt. Chris Olivarez told Fox News that four individuals were brought across on a raft from Mexico.

Olivarez said the amount of money the Chinese nationals paid is an example of how much money is involved with human smuggling and "how it strengthens transnational criminal organizations."

The trooper went on to say that it is a rare occurrence to encounter Chinese nationals crossing illegally between the ports of entry but acknowledged that Central and South American migrants make up the majority of those encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Border Patrol Encounters

In the Yuma entry port, CBP agents encountered more than 80,000 migrants in the first four months of the current fiscal year, which started in October. With that number of encounters, Yuma became the third busiest immigration hot spot after El Paso and Del Rio in Texas, the New York Post reported.

Migrants from Russia, China, Georgia, and Peru are now showing up at the U.S.-Mexico border, seeking asylum. Mexican immigration statistics showed that the number of Russians heading to the country more than doubled as the war in Ukraine started last year.

The Wall Street Journal report cited official statistics of around 30,000 Russians entering Mexico in February last year, an increase from the usual number of 12,000 per month over previous years.

READ MORE: Chinese Spy Balloon Causes Antony Blinken To Postpone China Trip

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: China Expert Issues Warning Over 'Extremely Serious' National Security Concerns - From Fox Business