Mayorkas asserts 65% drop in illegal border crossings under Biden’s policies.

Illegal⁣ Crossings at US Southern Border Decrease by Over ⁤60%

The Biden⁣ administration’s new immigration regulations have led to a significant drop of ​more than 60 percent in illegal crossings at the U.S. Southern border, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro ‌Mayorkas.

In an interview at the Aspen Security Forum​ in Colorado on July 20, Mr. Mayorkas ‍shared this encouraging news.

Since the expiration of Title‍ 42 in May, which ⁢allowed Border Patrol agents to​ illegal border crossings under Biden’s policies.”>immediately turn⁤ back​ illegal aliens ⁤to Mexico if they posed a health threat during​ the COVID-19 pandemic, officials have observed a remarkable 65 percent‍ decrease in the number ​of ⁢people encountered at the border.

Contrary to concerns that the end‌ of Title 42 would lead to a surge in illegal border crossings, the Biden administration ‍has implemented various initiatives to provide ‍lawful‌ pathways for individuals⁤ seeking⁤ humanitarian relief.

“We have built lawful pathways for individuals so that they do not need to take that dangerous journey to our Southern border in pursuit of humanitarian relief,” Mr. Mayorkas said. “We have‍ accelerated our refugee processing, ⁢we have instituted family ‌reunification programs, we use our discretionary authority under humanitarian⁤ parole and we are meeting people where they are.”

“At​ the same time, we⁤ have sought to disincentivize people ⁤from taking that dangerous journey and we raised ‌the evidentiary threshold that one⁤ must meet to make an asylum claim at the border,”⁢ Mr. Mayorkas added.

Border Patrol Data Shows Encounters Down

In addition to ⁤these efforts, the ⁤Biden administration has expanded access ⁢to CBP One, ​an app that allows migrants to ‌schedule appointments to‍ approach a border port of entry. They have also equipped some immigrant families who ⁢cross the U.S.-Mexico ‌border illegally and seek asylum with GPS ankle monitors for continuous tracking by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

However,⁢ critics argue ​that President Biden’s policies, such as the family reunification ​parole process⁣ and ‍various other pathways for legal entry and work authorization, have allowed up to 100,000 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala, and ‍El Salvador into the United States.

Despite these concerns, recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals a decline in total encounters with illegal immigrants along the Southwest border in ‌June.

According to CBP, encounters at the border, including individuals who presented at ports of entry with or ⁤without a CBP appointment, dropped to their lowest level in over two years, marking a 30 percent decrease from the previous month.

The U.S. Border Patrol ​recorded⁤ a 42 percent decrease in encounters ​between ports of entry‍ compared to May.

Troy Miller, CBP senior official performing the⁣ duties of the commissioner, attributed the decline in encounters to the agency’s enforcement efforts under Title 8 authorities and the expansion of lawful pathways.

Changes to Data Reporting

While the Biden administration⁤ celebrates the decrease in illegal border ​crossings, House ‍Republican lawmakers have raised concerns ​about alleged changes in the reporting of illegal entries into⁣ the United States.

Mark ‌Morgan,