
Southern border migrant activity returns to Trump-era levels
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Alex Delia (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)
Migrant apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border increased slightly in August. The total of those taken into custody remains on track to be the lowest annual figure since the end of the Trump administration, Customs and Border Protection reported Monday, Sept. 16.
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Border Patrol agents recorded about 58,000 apprehensions between ports of entry last month, a rise from the previous month but still less than half the number from August 2023. This comes after a sharp decline in migration following the implementation of stricter asylum rules by the Biden administration in June.


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Migrant encounters surged after President Joe Biden took office, reaching a peak of 250,000 in December 2023, the highest monthly total on record. However, since the administration tightened asylum regulations in response to political pressure, apprehensions have fallen sharply. In July, the number of border apprehensions hit a four-year low.

CBP officials expect the total number of encounters for the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, to be the lowest since 2020 and lower than the monthly average in 2019.
Despite the recent drop, immigration remains a prominent issue in the 2024 election, with former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance making it a central theme in their campaigns. Both have called for more aggressive border security measures.
As the Biden administration works to maintain lower migration levels, political debate surrounding immigration policy is expected to intensify in the coming months.
Karah Rucker
MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST, BUT REMAIN FAR BELOW LAST YEAR’S NUMBERS. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION REPORTS THE TOTAL IS ON TRACK TO BE THE LOWEST ANNUAL FIGURE SINCE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
BORDER PATROL RECORDED AROUND 58-THOUSAND APPREHENSIONS BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY LAST MONTH, UP FROM JULY… BUT LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT WAS REPORTED IN AUGUST 2023. THIS COMES AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN IMPLEMENTED STRICTER ASYLUM RULES IN JUNE, LEADING TO A SHARP DECLINE IN BORDER ACTIVITY.
“SO TODAY… I’M MOVING PAST REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTION AND USING EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES AVAILABLE TO ME AS PRESIDENT… TO DO WHAT I CAN ON MY OWN TO ADDRESS THE BORDER”
MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS HAD SPIKED AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, REACHING 250-THOUSAND IN DECEMBER 2023… THE HIGHEST MONTHLY TOTAL ON RECORD. HOWEVER, SINCE THE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, APPREHENSIONS HAVE DROPPED TO A 4-YEAR LOW IN JULY. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE NEW POLICIES ARE WORKING TO SECURE THE BORDER.
IMMIGRATION REMAINS A MAJOR TOPIC IN THE 2024 ELECTION. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND SENATOR JD VANCE HAVE BOTH MADE BORDER SECURITY A KEY PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS, CALLING FOR TOUGHER MEASURES AND MASS DEPORTATION.
AS THE FISCAL YEAR WRAPS UP ON SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH, OFFICIALS EXPECT THIS YEAR’S TOTAL MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS TO BE THE LOWEST SINCE 2020… AND EVEN LOWER THAN THE MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 2019.
FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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