Biden ends 2024 and his term with sharp drop in illegal border crossings

The Joe Biden administration is drawing to a close, with evidence suggesting that the restrictive policies implemented during the final year of the president’s term have significantly curtailed the massive influx of irregular immigration that marked much of his presidency. In December, the U.S.-Mexico border recorded a new low in irregular entries, cementing a downward trend that began in August.

Preliminary data released by the Associated Press indicates approximately 44,000 arrests as of Monday morning, pointing to an expected total close to November’s 46,612 apprehensions. This information was provided by a senior Customs and Border Protection official who requested anonymity due to the preliminary nature of the figures. For six straight months, illegal border entries have declined, falling to levels not seen since July 2020.

The chaotic surge of migrants at the border last year was a central theme of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign attacks on Biden’s administration. Trump’s focus on this issue proved a decisive strategy, leading to a landslide Republican victory in the November 5 elections.

By December 2023, the Border Patrol had recorded approximately 250,000 arrests along the southern border, marking an all-time high. Biden, who entered office with promises to reverse his predecessor’s stringent anti-immigration policies — marked by indiscriminate deportations and family separations — faced widespread criticism for enabling the massive entry of undocumented immigrants.

However, recent statistics reveal that the Biden administration set a new deportation record this year, expelling 271,484 non-citizens to 192 countries. This figure surpasses the record set under Trump.

Restrictions on asylum

The recent decline in illegal border crossings can largely be attributed to police enforcement measures implemented by former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who reached an agreement with President Biden to curb the flow of migrants from Central America. Additionally, changes to U.S. asylum policies under the Biden administration played a critical role.

In June, President Biden approved stricter asylum laws, mandating border closures whenever the daily average of arrests exceeded 2,500 for seven consecutive days. In September, restrictions were further tightened: the suspension of asylum applications could only be lifted once daily arrests fell below 1,500 for 28 consecutive days.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted these efforts in a statement, crediting the “swift and effective implementation” of asylum restrictions in June for achieving another month of border activity below the 2019 average, when Trump was in office. “This sustained success is the result of strong border enforcement, extensive engagement with our foreign partners, and the delivery of safe and lawful pathways that continue to provide humanitarian relief under our laws,” Mayorkas said.

The Rio Grande Valley in Texas was the second-busiest corridor for illegal crossings in December, rising from fifth place in November — a shift attributed to tactics employed by smuggling organizations and Mexican authorities. San Diego maintained its position as the leading corridor, followed by El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona.

The December data challenges the widespread belief that Trump’s return to the White House has driven a significant increase in migrant crossings ahead of his January 20 inauguration.

Trump has pledged to shut down the southern border on his first day in office and to sign a series of executive orders aimed at reestablishing his hardline immigration policies, including the mass deportation of the 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States. While experts predict that legal, logistical, and financial hurdles will delay the implementation of these plans, Trump’s actions to date — such as appointing staunch hardliners to lead his immigration agenda — and his public statements indicate his determination to move forward.

Among the measures Trump plans to introduce is the cancellation of the CBP One app, a program initiated under the Biden administration that allows migrants to schedule appointments to request asylum. Through this initiative, which offers 1,450 slots daily, Biden sought to promote the legal entry of foreign nationals. December is expected to mark the second consecutive month in which legal border crossings outnumber illegal ones.

Control from Mexico

Despite not yet reaching the U.S. border, thousands of migrants have surged northward in an attempt to enter the country. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has intensified operations to prevent them from reaching their destination. Activist groups reported in December that Mexican immigration authorities dismantled two small migrant caravans heading to the border. Some migrants were transported by bus to southern Mexican cities, while others were offered transit documents.

Trump has increased pressure on the Mexican government, threatening to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods if it fails to curb the flow of migrants reaching its northern border.

Meanwhile, Mexico is preparing to support its citizens affected by Trump’s announced deportation measures. In addition to setting up facilities to accommodate deportees, the government has introduced a “virtual panic button,” allowing Mexicans to notify the consulate, the foreign ministry, and designated family members of an imminent deportation. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Juan Ramón de la Fuente announced the initiative as a measure to safeguard the human rights of the 4.8 million Mexicans currently in the U.S. without legal documentation

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