Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,036 migrants who had crossed into the United States illegally near El Paso, Texas, early Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials and a document obtained by NBC News.
It's the largest group of migrants ever encountered by the agency, surpassing the prior record, set last month, of 424.
President Donald Trump on Thursday teased an upcoming statement about the border, which he said would be his biggest, and a third U.S. official expects this apprehension to factor into it.
Customs and Border Protection has noticed groups crossing the border in ever larger numbers. Immigration advocates say it provides "safety in numbers" during the treacherous journey, though U.S. officials say it can overwhelm medical teams and border agents.
