Arrests of undocumented migrants at the U.S. border with Mexico fell in November, clocking in at the lowest figure in over four years. Concretely, about 47,000 migrants were caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in November.
This figure represents a decline from nearly 57,000 in October and is the lowest monthly total since July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and at the last part of the Trump administration.
At the U.S.-Canada border, the official reported about 700 migrant arrests in November, a sharp decrease from 1,300 in October, according to Reuters, which cited a senior U.S. Border Patrol official. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to bolster border security following a meeting with Trump in Florida, potentially including new drones, helicopters, and personnel reallocations.
Trump has criticized the Biden administration for the high number of migrant apprehensions throughout his administration, claiming illegal immigration remains out of control. On Truth Social last week, Trump vowed to impose 25% tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada as part of his broader plan to curb undocumented immigration and illicit drugs. He has accused both countries of "bringing crime and drugs" to the U.S.
This could potentially lead to a trade war when Trump takes office on January 20, which could severely disrupt trade between these countries and potentially trigger inflation and recession in their economies, experts warn.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has warned that such tariffs would have severe consequences and hinted at possible retaliation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday to discuss the issue, emphasizing the importance of border security and trade relations.
While the number of arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped, this follows stricter measures implemented by the Biden administration. Since June, Biden's restrictions have blocked most people from claiming asylum after crossing illegally. Mexico has also intensified its immigration enforcement, halting hundreds of thousands of migrants heading to the U.S. since January.
A U.S. Border Patrol official pointed out that reductions in arrests reflect the success of international collaboration in addressing migration. The official also noted that migrant caravans, such as one Trump recently criticized, have largely been dispersed by the Mexican government before reaching the U.S. border.
Additionally, the Biden administration has expanded legal pathways for migration, allowing about 1.4 million migrants to enter through air travel or scheduled appointments by October. Trump, who has vowed to roll back these legal programs, has continued to criticize Biden's asylum policies as too lenient.
The U.S. has also been returning more migrants to Canada under a "safe third country" asylum agreement, which the official says has contributed to the drop in illegal crossings.
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