According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico decreased by 33% in July, reaching the lowest level since September 2020. The Border Patrol reported 56,408 arrests last month, a significant drop from the 83,536 arrests made in June.
Asylum at the border was suspended on June 5 due to the daily threshold of illegal crossings exceeding 2,500. This measure led to a 55% decrease in arrests, following a previous decline earlier in the year attributed to increased enforcement by Mexican authorities.
Acting CBP commissioner Troy Miller stated, 'In July, our border security measures enhanced our ability to deliver consequences for illegal entry.'
The Biden administration's actions have been praised by Democrats, with a White House spokesman highlighting their effectiveness compared to the lack of action from Republicans.
Over 38,000 individuals were admitted through land crossings using the CBP One online appointment system, totaling more than 765,000 admissions since its introduction in January 2023. Additionally, more than 520,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela were admitted through July under a separate policy allowing online applications with a financial sponsor and airport arrival.
However, concerns about sponsor fraud led to the temporary halt of permits under this policy. The Department of Homeland Security is working to resume application processing with appropriate safeguards in place.
Republican Rep. Mark Green criticized the Biden administration's legal pathways at the border, accusing them of creating a facade of improved optics while burdening communities with inadmissible aliens crossing at ports of entry.
