According to U.S. authorities, there were approximately 46,700 arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico in November, marking a 17% decrease from the previous month. This figure represents a significant drop from the record high of nearly 250,000 arrests in December and raises questions about anticipated increases prior to the upcoming presidential inauguration.
On the Canadian border, there were about 700 arrests in November, down from 1,283 in October. These preliminary figures were shared by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official who chose to remain anonymous.
President-elect Donald Trump recently announced plans for imposing new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China upon assuming office, as part of his strategy to address illegal immigration and drug-related issues. His strong stance on curbing unauthorized entry into the U.S. has drawn reactions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who highlighted the significant decrease in migrant arrivals this year.
Arrests on the Mexican border saw a 50% reduction following increased enforcement by Mexican authorities within their own borders in December. Subsequently, there was another 50% decline after the Biden administration implemented stringent asylum-seeking restrictions at the border.
The November arrest total of 46,700 reflects a 16% decrease from October's 56,530 arrests, marking the lowest point since July 2020 when 38,536 arrests were recorded. These numbers also fall below the monthly figures reported from October 2018 to August 2019 during Trump's initial term as president.