Illegal crossings along the U.S. southern border have seen a significant decrease, dropping to a 3-year low in June. This decrease follows President Biden’s implementation of stricter asylum policies and continued efforts by Mexico to stop migrants heading north, as per Customs and Border Protection data obtained by CBS News. Border Patrol processed approximately 84,000 migrants in June, the lowest monthly level since Mr. Biden took office in January 2021. This marks the fourth consecutive monthly drop, with migrant apprehensions decreasing from 141,000 in February to 84,000 in June.
The reduction in migration has been seen across various border regions, including remote areas such as Arizona and California. President Biden’s use of presidential power to ban most migrants from asylum if they cross into the U.S. between official ports of entry has contributed to the decrease. This policy has allowed immigration officials to deport larger numbers of migrants quickly, mainly from Mexico and other Latin American countries. The ban has been in place since June 4 and has led to a significant drop in daily migrant apprehensions, nearly halving the average from May to approximately 2,000.
Mexican officials have also played a role in slowing down U.S.-bound migration by conducting more deportations to southern Mexico and preventing migrants from boarding trains and buses. The decrease in unauthorized border entries is also influenced by factors such as weather patterns and tactics by smugglers controlling migrant movement in Mexico. The drop in crossings since Mr. Biden’s asylum crackdown is evident, with U.S. officials attributing the decline to the stricter policy. However, this policy faces legal challenges from groups like the ACLU, who argue that it violates asylum laws.
Despite the decrease in illegal crossings, immigration remains a contentious issue for President Biden, especially as former President Trump has intensified his attacks on Mr. Biden’s immigration record. Trump has criticized Biden for his handling of immigration, citing crimes allegedly committed by migrants living in the U.S. illegally. The current reprieve in migration comes as a temporary relief for Biden ahead of his presidential contest with Trump in November. While it remains to be seen if the migration lull will continue, it has provided a political boost for Biden on a polarizing issue.
