SAN DIEGO — Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico plunged 29% in June, the lowest month of Joe Biden’s presidency, according to figures released Monday that provide another window on the impact of a new rule to temporarily suspend asylum.
Arrests totaled 83,536 in June, down from 117,901 in May to mark the lowest tally since January 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
A seven-day average of daily arrests fell more than half by the end of June from Biden’s announcement on June 4 that asylum processing would be halted when daily arrests reach 2,500, which they did immediately, said Troy Miller, acting Customs and Border Protection commissioner.
“Recent border security measures have made a meaningful impact on our ability to impose consequences for those crossing unlawfully,” Miller said.
Arrests had already fallen by more than half from a record high of 250,000 in December, largely a result of increased enforcement by Mexican authorities, according to U.S. officials.
Sharp declines registered across nationalities, including Mexicans, who have been most affected by the suspension of asylum, and Chinese people, who generally fly to Ecuador and travel to the U.S. border over land.
San Diego was the busiest of the Border Patrol’s nine sectors bordering Mexico by number of arrests, followed by Tucson, Arizona.
More than 41,000 people entered legally through an online appointment app called CBP One in June. The agency said 680,500 people have successfully scheduled appointments since the app was introduced in January 2023.
Nearly 500,000 people from four countries entered on a policy to allow two-year stays on condition they have financial sponsors and arrive at an airport. They include 104,130 Cubans, 194,027 Haitians, 86,101 Nicaraguans and 110,541 Venezuelans, according to CBP.
In June, border arrests decreased by 29%, marking the lowest point of President Biden’s presidency so far. This significant drop in border apprehensions comes after months of heightened scrutiny and criticism over the administration’s handling of the surge of migrants at the southern border.
According to data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were approximately 104,000 border arrests in June, down from 144,000 in May. This decrease can be attributed to a variety of factors, including seasonal trends, changes in immigration policies, and increased enforcement efforts.
One key factor contributing to the decline in border arrests is the extreme heat of the summer months, which traditionally leads to a decrease in the number of migrants attempting to cross the border. Additionally, the Biden administration has implemented several measures aimed at deterring migrants from making the dangerous journey to the United States, such as reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy and increasing resources for border enforcement.
Another factor that may have contributed to the decrease in border arrests is the ongoing efforts to address the root causes of migration in Central America. The Biden administration has pledged to invest $4 billion in aid to address economic and security issues in the region, with the goal of reducing the flow of migrants seeking asylum in the United States.
Despite the significant drop in border arrests in June, immigration remains a complex and contentious issue that will continue to be a top priority for the Biden administration. While some critics have praised the decrease in apprehensions as a sign of progress, others argue that more needs to be done to address the underlying causes of migration and ensure humane treatment of migrants at the border.
As the Biden administration continues to navigate the challenges of immigration policy, it is clear that finding a balance between enforcing immigration laws and upholding humanitarian values will be crucial in addressing the ongoing crisis at the southern border. Only time will tell how these efforts will impact future trends in border apprehensions and overall immigration policy.
