Janice R. Andrews
Texas’s El Paso Manager of migrant shelters in West Texas and New Mexico Kari Lenander is seeing a shift that she hasn’t seen in a long time. Many of the cots that were formerly full are now vacant. In sharp contrast to the spike in prior years, the number of migrants arriving in shelters has significantly decreased as a result of the fall in border crossings between the United States and Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released figures showing that, as of July 2024, the number of apprehensions of migrants has decreased to its lowest point since the Biden administration began office. Vice President Kamala Harris must consider the serious ramifications of this unexpected development as she gets ready for the Democratic National Convention next week.
A Sharp Drop in the Number of Migrant Arrivals
Over the last five months, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Apprehensions fell precipitously in July 2024, with CBP reporting a 57% decline from the same month the previous year. The Biden administration, which has come under heavy fire and scrutiny for how it has handled border security, is celebrating this decline in crossings as a rare win.
Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, ascribed this drop to a number of causes. Mayorkas told USA TODAY, “The numbers have decreased and have decreased significantly.” He attributed the decline to a number of administration-enacted policies, such as the establishment of legal routes for migrants, harsher penalties for unauthorized entry, more stringent asylum regulations, and diplomatic initiatives with Mexico and Central American nations to improve border security.
The Effects of the New US Border Regulations
Over the last few years, the Biden administration’s approach to border security has changed, especially in reaction to contacts with migrants that broke records. The use of novel regulations, such the CBP One app, which facilitates the scheduling of appointments for migrants at ports of entry, has been essential in the management of the migrant flow. Executive directives intended to strengthen asylum laws have also played a part in the decrease in unauthorized crossings.
A notable change that has occurred is the administration’s emphasis on global diplomacy. The United States has succeeded in obtaining agreements from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and Colombia to strengthen border security measures and offer humanitarian aid to migrants through diplomatic channels. This cooperative method has produced a more all-encompassing plan to stop illegal immigration.
A Fleeting Dip or a Long-Term Trend?
Although the present decrease in migrant crossings is positive, several analysts warn that similar decreases have happened in the past, only for migration to rebound. Lenander, who has worked in shelters for a long time and witnessed several similar swings, is still wary. She observed, “The numbers don’t usually stay down for long.” “The issues that force individuals to escape their native countries haven’t altered.”
In reality, the causes of migration—such as political unrest, poverty, and violence in Central America—remain widespread. But the steady drop of crossings over the last six months raises the possibility that the Biden administration’s multipronged strategy is having a longer-lasting effect.
Political Consequences and Texas’s Position
The Biden administration is going through a difficult period right now, especially as it gets ready for the Democratic National Convention. This is seen in the decline of migrant crossings. Republicans have been attacking the administration nonstop, claiming that its policies support a “open border.” But the recent decline of crossings has changed the story and called into question the Republican Party’s platform.
Leading the Republican reaction has been Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has been a vociferous opponent of the administration’s border policy. The country has taken notice of Abbott’s contentious practice of transporting migrant groups on buses to “sanctuary cities” in neighboring states. But since crossings have decreased, there is less of a need for these vehicles. Governor Andrew Mahaleris’s spokeswoman stated, “There are fewer buses departing for sanctuary cities because there are fewer illegal crossings into Texas.”
Rivers for Migrants in Ciudad Juárez
In Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez, across the border, the effects of the drop in migrant crossings are visible. Only a few families remain on the once-heavy banks of the Río Grande, hoping to make their way into the United States. Most of the concertina wire that the Texas National Guard installed to discourage crossings is still in place.
Since its inception, one of the main objectives of the Biden administration has been to decrease risky crossings between ports of entry. Early warnings from Vice President Kamala Harris against immigration to the United States were mostly ignored as the epidemic and ensuing economic unrest resulted in historically high levels of migration. Recent events, however, imply that the administration’s initiatives to reinforce border security and deal with the underlying reasons of migration may finally be paying off.
Difficulties Ahead
Even with the advancements, problems still exist. The new asylum limits put in place by the Biden administration in June 2024 have drawn criticism from immigrant rights organizations and legal challenges. Furthermore, there has been opposition to the administration’s plans to raise the number of people deported and removed from the United States from certain places.
Secretary Mayorkas reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to lowering illegal migration in July 2024 by announcing a new deportation deal with Panama. Further tightening the border, further security measures have also been implemented to stop migrants from scheduling CBP One appointments from outside of Mexico.
A Novel Phase in the Security of the US Border?
The steady decrease in the number of migrant crossings raises significant concerns about the security of the US border going forward. Will the present actions result in an end to illegal immigration in the long run, or are they just temporary measures?
Directors of shelters like Lenander are still getting used to the new situation. The El Paso Sector of the Border Patrol notifies them of the number of migrants who will be released and in need of shelter on a daily basis. These figures are frequently in the single digits now, when they were earlier in the hundreds.
Results
A noteworthy accomplishment as the Biden administration works to manage the challenges of border security is the recent decrease in the number of migrant crossings. But the conditions at the border continue to be unstable, and the fundamental problems that motivate migration have not been addressed. The future of U.S. immigration policy is still unknown as the government works to hone its strategy and as political pressure increases ahead of the 2024 presidential race. For the time being, however, the vacant cots in refugee camps such as Lenander’s tell the tale of a singularly noteworthy triumph in one of the administration’s most difficult sectors.
