As the new year approached, border crossings from Mexico saw little fluctuation in December, maintaining numbers near a three-year low. This trend defied expectations of increased crossings ahead of Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
According to figures shared by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official, there were approximately 44,000 arrests for illegal crossings in December, just shy of the 46,612 arrests recorded in November. The official, who chose to remain anonymous due to the preliminary nature of the data, indicated that December’s figures are likely to remain below the 2019 average for the sixth consecutive month.
This period also marks a low point in such arrests during President Joe Biden’s administration. In response to inquiries, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas credited the decline to the “swift and effective implementation” of new asylum restrictions put in place in June. He stated, “This sustained success is the result of strong border enforcement, extensive engagement with our foreign partners, and the delivery of safe and lawful pathways that continue to provide humanitarian relief under our laws.”
Arrests have dramatically decreased from a peak of 250,000 in December 2023, primarily due to increased enforcement by Mexican authorities and stricter asylum policies introduced under Biden’s administration. The Mexican government’s efforts and new asylum limits have played key roles in this reduction.
In December, the Texas Rio Grande Valley moved up as the second most active corridor for illegal crossings, following San Diego. This shift is believed to be influenced by strategic choices made by smuggling networks and Mexican law enforcement. El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona, took the third and fourth spots, respectively.
The trend of legal entries surpassing illegal crossings continued for a second month, aligning with the Biden administration’s strategy to expand legal entry points while restricting asylum for those crossing illegally. Most of these entries were facilitated through an online appointment system, CBP One, which offers 1,450 slots daily.
Meanwhile, Trump is preparing measures focusing on immigration control, including the possibility of reinstating policies that require asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court dates. He has also expressed intentions to eliminate CBP One appointments, as he emphasized in a statement made in September.
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