SAN DIEGO — The number of arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico dropped by 7% in September, reaching the lowest level observed in over four years, as reported by authorities on Tuesday. This statistic may represent the final monthly measurement during a presidential campaign characterized by significant focus on immigration, particularly by Republican nominee Donald Trump.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrol recorded 53,858 arrests in September, a decrease from August’s 58,009, marking the lowest monthly arrests since August 2020 when figures were recorded at 47,283. Notably, Mexican nationals comprised nearly half of all arrests, reflecting a shift in demographics, as they accounted for less than 25% of apprehensions during a peak in December when arrests surged to 250,000. Additionally, the number of arrests for other nationalities, such as Guatemalans, Hondurans, Colombians, and Ecuadoreans, has significantly decreased over the course of this year.
September statistics revealed that San Diego remained the most active area for illegal crossings, followed closely by El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona. Over the government’s fiscal year ending September 30, the Border Patrol recorded a total of 1.53 million arrests, a decrease after surpassing 2 million for the previous two years.
The White House emphasized these figures as evidence that recent stringent asylum regulations enacted in June are achieving intended outcomes, attributing some of the blame for ongoing issues to congressional Republicans who opposed a border security proposal that ultimately failed in February. Vice President Kamala Harris has also referenced this narrative in her criticisms of Trump, asserting that the Biden administration has taken decisive steps to address immigration enforcement challenges.
“The Biden Harris Administration has taken effective action, while Republican officials have done nothing,” White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández stated.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform, known for its critical stance against the administration and advocacy for stricter immigration policies, credited the decrease in arrests to increased enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities on their side of the border. They argued that the U.S. government has effectively delegated its border security responsibilities to Mexico as the upcoming 2024 election approaches, cautioning that these policies could be reversed at any time by the Mexican government.
Following Mexico’s enhanced enforcement strategy initiated in December, arrests saw a notable decline, followed by an even sharper reduction once the U.S. asylum restrictions came into play in June. U.S. officials have acknowledged and stressed the collaborative role of Mexican authorities amid these changing dynamics.
This year, Mexican officials have been encountering a higher number of migrants while maintaining relatively low deportation rates, leading to a backlog of individuals. In another report, Panamanian authorities shared an uptick in migrants traversing the perilous Darien Gap in September, though the numbers remain significantly lower than those recorded last year.
Troy Miller, the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, indicated last week that the current administration is cooperating with Mexico and other nations to collectively tackle migration issues. “We remain vigilant about any bottlenecks, and we are continuously assessing and discussing these matters with our partners,” Miller stated during a press conference held in San Diego.
In an effort to deter illegal crossings, the Biden administration has advocated for new and broadened legal avenues for entry into the United States. In September alone, CBP allowed over 44,600 individuals to enter the country via appointments made through an online system called CBP One, culminating in a total of 852,000 entries since its launch in January 2023.
Additionally, a Biden policy permits up to 30,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who have financial sponsors, to enter the country each month through international airports. As of September, over 531,000 individuals from these nations have utilized this pathway for entry.