According to the Homeland Security Department, arrests for illegal border crossings have decreased by over 40% since the suspension of asylum processing began three weeks ago.
This announcement comes on the eve of a critical debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, as the election campaign heats up.
President Biden faces particular scrutiny from voters on immigration issues, with Trump frequently criticizing him on border security and portraying migrants as a threat to the nation’s security and economy.
While President Biden has implemented restrictions to curb new arrivals at the border, he has also introduced new immigration pathways. These actions have drawn both praise and criticism, with some viewing them as similar to measures taken by Trump.
The latest data from the Department of Homeland Security shows that Border Patrol arrests have dropped to below 2,400 per day, a decrease of more than 40% since President Biden’s proclamation on June 5. Despite this decline, arrests are still above the threshold required to resume asylum processing.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visited the Tucson sector in Arizona, a hotspot for illegal crossings. He praised the asylum suspension as a successful deterrent for potential border crossers.
Under the current asylum suspension policy, individuals expressing fear or intent to seek asylum are screened at a higher standard by a U.S. asylum officer. If they pass the screening, they may be eligible for limited forms of humanitarian protection.
Immigration advocates have raised concerns and legal challenges against these restrictions.
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