On a record-setting day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported the lowest number of apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the southern border, the Washington Examiner reported.
July 20 marked not only the lowest daily total but also contributed to the lowest monthly figures ever recorded in the history of border enforcement.
This stark reduction in illegal crossings is a result of policy reversals from the previous administration, showcasing an altered approach towards border security and management.
During the peak of illegal immigration under President Joe Biden, figures reached a staggering 14 million unauthorized residents in the U.S. in 2023. This represented 27% of the nation's total foreign-born population according to the Pew Research Center. The change in numbers is significant, considering President Donald Trump's current administration achieved unprecedented lows shortly after his return to office.
Under Biden, high numbers of migrants were characteristic, with monthly figures consistently outpacing several past administrations. In contrast, the recent counts from Trump's administration reflect a drastically different scenario—an almost 93% drop in border apprehensions.
The recorded low of just 116 illegal immigrants seized on July 20, as announced by the House Committee on Homeland Security, signals a transformative shift in border patrol methodology.
July's total count at the Southwest border was 7,382, a figure that not only set the daily record but also established a new low for monthly totals. According to the committee overseeing Homeland Security, this reduction breaks the previous record set just the month before.
"This is the lowest monthly total in [Customs and Border Protection] history, breaking the previous record set last month," stated the committee at the monthly border briefing. This sentiment emphasizes how successive months under the Trump administration have continually lowered illegal crossings.
This drop in numbers is partly due to no inadmissible aliens being released into American communities for three consecutive months—a stark contrast to the thousands released in July of last year under Biden.
A noticeable decline was also seen in the treacherous Darien Gap route, a common path for migrants coming from South and Central America. Reports in May highlighted a 99.5% decrease in individuals attempting this perilous journey, marking another success in curtailing unsafe and illegal migration.
Such significant declines in illegal crossings point to effective border security measures and possibly more stringent policies under Trump's administration. These measures seem to be disincentivizing attempts to cross into the U.S. illegally, thus reducing the risks associated with undocumented travel.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York emphasized the effectiveness of these new policies, "With Southwest border apprehensions at a record low due to the reversal of the Biden-Harris administration’s open-borders policies, the days of human smugglers, gang members, known or suspected terrorists, and drug traffickers taking advantage of our borders and communities are over," he declared.
These record-setting numbers may reshape the discussion around immigration and border enforcement in the United States. As the current administration continues to enforce and possibly expand its strategies, these might serve as benchmarks for future operations and policy formulations.
The visible successes of these new strategies reflect a broader shift from reactive to preemptive border security measures, focusing not just on apprehending migrants but preventing illegal entries altogether.
Observers and policymakers alike will be watching closely to see how sustained these trends are and what other changes in policy or enforcement might come as the administration progresses.
