Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico experienced a significant drop by 29% in June, marking the lowest numbers during President Joe Biden’s term, as reported by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday. The total number of arrests in June was 83,536, a decrease from 117,901 in May, and the lowest since January 2021. The decrease was attributed to the temporary suspension of asylum processing.
The announcement in early June by acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Troy Miller, regarding the suspension of asylum processing when daily arrests reached 2,500 and the subsequent enforcement measures, led to more than half a drop in daily arrests by the end of June. This reduction reflects the impact of recent border security measures aimed at deterring illegal crossings.
Arrest numbers had already decreased by over 50% since reaching a record high of 250,000 in December, primarily due to enhanced enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities. The decline was observed across various nationalities, including Mexicans who were significantly affected by the asylum suspension, and Chinese individuals who typically travel through Ecuador to reach the U.S. border.
Among the Border Patrol sectors along the Mexico border, San Diego recorded the highest number of arrests in June, followed by Tucson, Arizona. Additionally, more than 41,000 individuals made legal entries in June through the CBP One online appointment app. The agency reported that since its introduction in January 2023, 680,500 successful appointments have been scheduled through the app.
Furthermore, close to 500,000 people from four countries entered the U.S. under a policy allowing two-year stays if they have financial sponsors and arrive at an airport. This group comprises 104,130 Cubans, 194,027 Haitians, 86,101 Nicaraguans, and 110,541 Venezuelans, according to CBP statistics.
