Apprehensions at the southern border are expected to have risen slightly in August compared to July, but still be among the lowest figures throughout the entire Biden administration, authorities said.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials told The Associated press that they had made about 54,000 arrests by August 29, meaning that if the trend continued the month would end up with roughly 58,000.
The figure is slightly higher than the 56,408 recorded in August, but still substantially lower than previous months and about 75% less compared to last December, when over 200,000 migrants were caught trying to enter the country.
"Thanks to action taken by the Biden-Harris Administration, the hard work of our DHS personnel and our partnerships with other countries in the region and around the world, we continue to see the lowest number of encounters at our Southwest border since September 2020," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a statement marking the end of the month.
Authorities also highlighted that over 765,000 people have entered the country legally through the end of July using CBP One, an online appointment app for asylum seekers. The Mexican government has announced it will offer escorted bus rides from southern Mexico to the U.S. border for non-Mexican migrants who get such appointments.
Moreover, 520,000 additional people from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti entered through a program where sponsors guarantee their financial support once they arrive in the country. The program had been suspended for a little over a month after allegations of widespread fraud but resumed last week.
The agency said the program will now have enhanced security measures, including increased scrutiny of sponsors' financial records and criminal backgrounds.
"DHS is committed to holding accountable individuals who commit fraud or attempt to exploit others for gain. Any individuals found to have committed fraud or other abuse will be referred to law enforcement for potential prosecution," said a spokesperson for the agency, according to the Miami Herald.
The government was reportedly eager to resume the program as it believes it helps deter migrants from the benefited countries enter into the U.S. illegally. Over 2.6 million people from the four countries have applied for entry.
Initially launched for Venezuelans in October 2022, the program was expanded in January 2023 to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans. It allows migrants with U.S. sponsors who pass biometric and biographical vetting to receive work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the U.S. The program does not cover travel expenses, which migrants must bear themselves.
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