According to our laws, and to the best extent we can with the budget appropriated. Traffic to the border has greatly increased and it’s predominantly people seeking asylum. One of the largest factors driving is the termination of title 42, which was a pandemic emergency level shut down. Biden tried to continue that, but the courts struck him down. Congress either needs to change the laws and/or budget a whole lot, more money for people and facilities to process an assimilate asylum seekers. Who are legal immigrants.
Unencountered, and unauthorized, are not the same thing. Encountered includes everyone border, patrol or immigration officers have encountered, whether at the border crossings, between border crossings, immigrant applying for asylum, and immigrants trying to sneak in. The latter group is sent out of the country. But our laws allow for people to apply for asylum status as refugees whether they are encountered at an official border crossing portal or between portals.