Encounters at points of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border between federal agents and immigrants illegally entering the U.S. exceeded those that took place between ports of entry for the first time in history last month, according to new data.

Encounters reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protections’ (CBP) Office of Field Operations totaled 47,500 in November while encounters reported by U.S. Border Patrol totaled 46,660, the numbers — shared exclusively with NewsNation — show.

Although November’s 94,210 encounters along the southern border dropped from October by nearly 12,000, where they took place demonstrates a shift in how migrants are entering the country, according to a former CBP agent.

Immigration officials reported 106,344 encounters in October with 56,530 of those encounters taking place in between designated ports of entry. The Office of Field Operations reported 49,814 encounters at ports of entry, according to the Department of Homeland Security data.

President-elect Trump and his "border czar" Tom Homan have pledged to tighten security at the southern border once Trump takes office in January. They have promised a........

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