Recent data released by U.S. officials indicates a potential decline in illegal border crossings as the Biden administration nears the end of its term. In December, Customs and Border Protection reported 47,300 illegal border crossings, a slight increase from November's 46,612, but still approaching the lowest level since July 2020. The trend continued into January, with a 45% decrease in crossings compared to December.
Notably, South Texas saw a significant rise in border crossing activity, with arrests doubling from around 5,000 in November to over 10,000 in December in the Rio Grande Valley region. This surge occurred despite efforts by Republican leaders to enhance border security through Operation Lonestar.
In December, the number of border arrests surpassed the count of individuals processed for asylum at ports of entry using the CBP One app. This app, introduced in January 2023, has facilitated nearly 936,500 appointment bookings. Despite previous statements by President-elect Donald J. Trump about discontinuing CBP One appointments, a senior CBP official confirmed that appointments are still being scheduled.
The overall trend shows a decline in border crossings from the peak recorded under the Biden administration in December 2023, when arrests reached nearly 250,000. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas attributed this decrease to a proclamation issued by the Biden administration in June 2024, which temporarily suspends asylum processing at overwhelmed border points. Mayorkas noted, 'Since the president's proclamation took effect last summer, encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border have decreased by 60%.'
