Former Border Patrol chief: Actual number of ILLEGALS in the U.S. likely exceeds 20 million

06/16/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

Former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz estimates the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. is likely “much higher than 20 million” – contradicting federal estimates of 11 to 20 million, due to decades of unchecked crossings and untracked “gotaways.”
Ortiz cites long-standing border security weaknesses, recalling waves of unauthorized migration since the 1990s, with many immigrants embedding in communities after evading detection.
Border Patrol struggled with enforcement gaps, including diverted resources (e.g., during the 1992 L.A. riots) and inability to track “gotaways,” leading to systemic undercounting.
Ortiz blames lax enforcement and sanctuary city policies for worsening the crisis, advocating for deportations, stricter asylum rules and a “whole-of-government approach” to immigration.
The financial strain on states (e.g., Texas, Arizona) and risks to national security, public services and infrastructure highlight the urgent need for decisive action to address the escalating crisis.

The true scale of illegal immigration in the U.S. may be far greater than official estimates suggest, according to former U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.

During an interview on “The Will Cain Show” on Fox News Wednesday, June 11, Ortiz stated the number of illegal immigrants residing in the country is likely “much higher than 20 million.” According to him, decades of unchecked crossings, operational strains and untracked “gotaways” have led to a severely undercounted population.

Ortiz, who retired in 2023 after 32 years with the agency, pointed to long-standing vulnerabilities in border security. He recalled waves of unauthorized migration dating back to the early 1990s.

“I can remember when I was a young agent in southern California, there were droves of people walking up the interstates day in and day out,” he said. Those populations, he noted, have since embedded in communities across the region.

Operational challenges, such as diverting agents to assist during crises like the 1992 Los Angeles riots, further weakened enforcement efforts. This created conditions where border security was “diminished” for extended periods. Ortiz recalled that the Border Patrol was “never able to manage” the actual number of gotaways as “agents were conducting other duties outside of their enforcement duties.”

Biden’s policies fuel illegal immigration: Who’s really paying the price?

His remarks contradict federal estimates, which have historically placed the undocumented population between 11 and 20 million. They have also intensified debates over national security, public services and immigration policy.

Ortiz argued that official figures fail to account for unrecorded entries, particularly “gotaways” – individuals who evade apprehension – and the compounding effect of years without adequate enforcement. “What we’ve seen over the last five, six years is really just a telltale sign of what happened over the last 20 years,” he said.

His comments align with broader concerns over the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which critics argue have exacerbated border crises. Almost a year earlier, Ortiz emphasized the need for a “whole-of-government approach” when it comes to immigration.

“Until we get rid of sanctuary cities, until we start making sure that we’re backing our law enforcement, we’re going to continue to see these problems occur,” he told Fox News‘ Neil Cavuto during a July 2024 appearance on “Your World.” Ortiz also emphasized other measures such as deportations and consequences for ineligible asylum seekers. (Related: Border Patrol chief: Unlawful border crossers must face SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.)

The financial toll of illegal immigration has also drawn scrutiny. States like Texas and Arizona are diverting millions annually to address lawlessness, crime and strained public resources. If not for those issues, these funds could have otherwise bolstered infrastructure, education and economic development.

As policymakers grapple with solutions, Ortiz’s warnings underscore a pressing reality: The U.S. may be facing an immigration crisis far larger than previously acknowledged, with implications for national stability and fiscal priorities. Without decisive action, the challenges at the border and beyond will only deepen.

Watch former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz disclosing that he didn’t have any conversations with the White House throughout the border crisis in this “60 Minutes” interview.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.