Border Patrol encounters of illegal immigrants from China at the U.S.-Mexico border increased more than 1,100%, according to recently updated federal data.

Encounters of Chinese migrants crossing illegally jumped from 1,970 in fiscal year 2022 to 24,048 in fiscal year 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Border Patrol encounters of illegal immigrants at the southern border surpassed two million, overall.

“Right now in China there’s extreme pessimism, especially among people in their 20s about the future of their country, so it’s understandable that they’re leaving and they’re trying to get into the United States. And, you know, these are people who are relatively middle class, so it shows you the problems in Chinese society are severe,” China expert Gordon Chang previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation.