Southern border migrant activity returns to Trump-era levels

Karah Rucker

MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST, BUT REMAIN FAR BELOW LAST YEAR’S NUMBERS. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION REPORTS THE TOTAL IS ON TRACK TO BE THE LOWEST ANNUAL FIGURE SINCE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. 

BORDER PATROL RECORDED AROUND 58-THOUSAND APPREHENSIONS BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY LAST MONTH, UP FROM JULY… BUT LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT WAS REPORTED IN AUGUST 2023. THIS COMES AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN IMPLEMENTED STRICTER ASYLUM RULES IN JUNE, LEADING TO A SHARP DECLINE IN BORDER ACTIVITY.

“SO TODAY… I’M MOVING PAST REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTION AND USING EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES AVAILABLE TO ME AS PRESIDENT… TO DO WHAT I CAN ON MY OWN TO ADDRESS THE BORDER”

MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS HAD SPIKED AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, REACHING 250-THOUSAND IN DECEMBER 2023… THE HIGHEST MONTHLY TOTAL ON RECORD. HOWEVER, SINCE THE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, APPREHENSIONS HAVE DROPPED TO A 4-YEAR LOW IN JULY. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE NEW POLICIES ARE WORKING TO SECURE THE BORDER. 

IMMIGRATION REMAINS A MAJOR TOPIC IN THE 2024 ELECTION. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND SENATOR JD VANCE HAVE BOTH MADE BORDER SECURITY A KEY PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS, CALLING FOR TOUGHER MEASURES AND MASS DEPORTATION.  

AS THE FISCAL YEAR WRAPS UP ON SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH, OFFICIALS EXPECT THIS YEAR’S TOTAL MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS TO BE THE LOWEST SINCE 2020… AND EVEN LOWER THAN THE MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 2019.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.