President-elect Trump is set to take office amid a significant drop in border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that border stops are the lowest they’ve been since Trump left office, with a decrease in the number of arrivals. Arrivals through land ports of entry and illegal crossings have been on the decline, with more migrants being processed through legal means. San Diego saw a drop in border arrests, but remains a top destination for illegal crossings.
In the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration, there has not been a significant increase in border arrivals, with most regions seeing little change. However, there was a slight uptick in migrant stops reported in Texas, which signaled a possible increase in migration post-election. The Biden administration’s asylum restrictions have made it harder for migrants to qualify for asylum, resulting in fewer people attempting illegal crossings.
The U.S. border is no longer just attracting Mexican and Central American migrants, but people from all over the world. Throughout Biden’s presidency, arrivals from countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and China have increased. Chinese migrants, in particular, have seen a surge, with record numbers arriving at the San Diego border. Immigrant detention has increased since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, with over 39,000 people currently being held in civil immigrant detention facilities.
The historic arrivals during the Biden administration have added to an already enormous backlog in immigration court, with over 3.7 million pending cases. Funding for more immigration judges and systemic reforms are needed to address this backlog. Overall, the landscape of migration across the U.S.-Mexico border has shifted in recent years, with changes in policy and global events affecting patterns of migration.
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