Border arrests along the southern border hit a record low in July under the Biden administration, with the total expected to be less than 60,000 for the month. This marks a significant decrease from the peak of 250,000 arrests in December. The drop in arrests comes after President Biden implemented stricter border measures, including restrictions on asylum for migrants who cross illegally.
The July arrest numbers are set to be the lowest monthly apprehensions under the Biden administration, with the previous low occurring in January 2021 when around 75,000 migrant apprehensions were made. The Biden administration’s efforts to deter illegal border crossings seem to be having an impact, with border officials now able to more quickly return migrants to their home countries or Mexico.
This decrease in border arrests could potentially shift the political narrative surrounding the Biden administration’s handling of immigration, a key issue leading up to the November election. Republicans have criticized President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris over the surge in border crossings, making it a focal point of their campaign.
While the current arrest numbers are still higher than most of President Trump’s term, they are more in line with the levels seen during his presidency. Some argue that the Biden administration is simply allowing migrants to enter the country through other means, such as a Customs and Border Protection app that schedules entry at ports of entry. Despite the decrease in arrests, overall entries may still exceed totals from the Trump administration.
As the Biden administration continues to address border security and immigration policies, the latest data on border arrests indicates a notable shift in the number of illegal crossings. The impact of these measures and the ongoing political debate surrounding immigration remain key issues for the administration and the upcoming election.
