In the month of July, U.S. officials processed migrants along the border with Mexico a total of 183,503 times. This marked a 33% increase in illegal crossings compared to June, which had seen a two-year low despite record high temperatures. Government statistics published on Friday revealed that Border Patrol agents apprehended 132,652 migrants who unlawfully entered the U.S. between ports of entry in July, whereas June had recorded nearly 100,000 apprehensions. Additionally, a record high of 50,851 migrants were processed at legal ports of entry, predominantly under a system that allows asylum-seekers in Mexico to request appointments to enter the U.S. via a phone app.
The most significant surge in unlawful crossings occurred in the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol, an expansive and remote region encompassing most of Arizona’s border with Mexico and parts of the Sonoran Desert. This area experienced daily temperatures of up to 110 degrees throughout the summer. The Tucson sector recorded nearly 40,000 apprehensions in July, setting a sector record.
There was a rise in border patrol apprehensions across various demographics, particularly among families traveling with children. This specific population poses significant challenges for U.S. officials due to legal restrictions on detaining minors. In June, Border Patrol agents processed over 60,000 migrant parents and children traveling together between ports of entry, almost double the number from June. The number of apprehensions for single adult migrants remained relatively consistent at just over 62,000 in July, while there was a near 50% increase in the number of unaccompanied children apprehended, surpassing 10,000.
It is worth noting that despite the increase, July’s illegal border crossings do not reach the record levels seen in certain months of 2022 when monthly Border Patrol apprehensions reached over 220,000. July 2023’s tally represents a 27% decrease compared to July 2022. However, the rise in illegal crossings poses a threat to the Biden administration’s migration management strategy, which was credited for the previous month’s two-year low in apprehensions. This strategy relies on programs that grant permission for tens of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. each month, as well as stricter asylum standards for those who choose to cross the border illegally instead of using these procedures.
In July, nearly 45,000 migrants were allowed to enter the U.S. at ports of entry after scheduling appointments through CBP One, the government app intended to be the main portal to the U.S. asylum system. The Biden administration also permits up to 30,000 migrants from countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who have American financial sponsors, to fly to U.S. airports each month. Furthermore, the administration disqualifies migrants from asylum if they enter the U.S. illegally without first seeking refuge in other countries they pass through on their way to America. This policy has resulted in swift deportation for those affected, primarily single adult migrants, as the government lacks sufficient asylum officers to process all asylum requests.
Apart from the increase in migration, the Biden administration’s border strategy faces legal challenges. Republican-led states are seeking to shut down the migrant sponsorship program, while advocates for migrants are requesting the invalidation of the asylum restriction through a federal appeals court in California.
Overall, the recent surge in illegal border crossings underscores the ongoing complexities and difficulties faced by U.S. officials. The Biden administration is actively working to address these challenges through increased deportations and the implementation of various migration management programs. However, the situation at the border remains fluid and subject to ongoing developments.
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