Arrests at the US-Mexico border fall by 29% after suspension of asylum law

SAN DIEGO – The number of arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico fell 29% in June, the lowest month of Joe Biden’s presidency, according to figures released Monday that provide further insight into the impact of a new rule temporarily suspending asylum rights.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, apprehensions totaled 83,536 in June, compared to 117,901 in May, the lowest since January 2021.

The seven-day average of daily apprehensions fell by more than half by the end of June after Biden announced on June 4 that he would stop processing asylum claims if the number of daily apprehensions reached 2,500, which happened immediately, said Troy Miller, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

“Recent border security measures have significantly compromised our ability to impose consequences on those who cross the border illegally,” Miller said.

According to US authorities, the number of arrests has already fallen by more than half from the record high of 250,000 in December, largely due to increased measures by Mexican authorities.

Sharp declines were recorded for all nationalities, including Mexicans, who are most affected by the suspension of asylum rights, and Chinese, who typically fly to Ecuador and then travel by land to the US border.

Of the nine Border Patrol sectors along the Mexican border, San Diego had the most arrests, followed by Tucson, Arizona.

More than 41,000 people entered legally in June through an online appointment app called CBP One. The agency said 680,500 people have successfully made appointments since the app was launched in January 2023.

Nearly 500,000 people from four countries entered, being granted a two-year stay as long as they had financial support and arrived through an airport. Among them were 104,130 Cubans, 194,027 Haitians, 86,101 Nicaraguans and 110,541 Venezuelans, according to CBP.

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