On Tuesday, the Biden administration likely felt a significant sense of relief as recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data revealed a sharp 42 percent decline in national U.S.-Mexico border crossings from December to January. This decrease marks the largest month-to-month drop since Joe Biden assumed office.
Dramatic Drop in Migrant Encounters
January saw a significant reduction in total migrant encounters across the U.S. northern and southern borders, numbering 242,587—a sharp drop from December’s 370,925 encounters.
This figure also represents a decline of over 65,000 from the counts in October (309,065) and November (308,636).
A Significant Shift
Specifically, at the Southwest land border, critical for states such as Texas and Arizona, encounters decreased from 301,983 in December to 176,205 in January.
Over 2.4 Million Encounters
During the 2023 fiscal year, the U.S.-Mexico border witnessed over 2.4 million encounters, a significant increase from roughly 1.7 million in 2021.
Serious Challenges
Troy Miller, the acting commissioner of CBP, acknowledged in a Tuesday press release the ‘serious challenges’ in curbing illegal immigration but noted progress, especially at ports of entry.
50% Drop
“Southwest border encounters between ports of entry dropped by 50% in January,” Miller stated, emphasizing the ongoing difficulties at the border that exceed the capabilities of the current immigration system.
Drug Interception Efforts
Miller highlighted CBP’s critical role in preventing the entry of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, with a 34% increase in fentanyl interceptions and a 68% rise in cocaine seizures compared to the previous month.
Lowest in Fiscal Year
Texas saw a drastic reduction in migrant encounters, with total crossings dropping from 155,737 in December to 73,750 in January, marking the lowest figure in the current fiscal year that started in October.
Drop in Mexico-U.S. Crossings
The Southwest land border witnessed a significant decline in crossings, dropping from six-figure encounters between October and December. In particular, crossings from Mexico into the U.S. fell sharply from 149,806 in December to 68,260 in January.
Persistent GOP Critique
Despite this development, Republicans have been persistent in their critique of the president and his administration, particularly targeting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, due to the high volume of migrants crossing into the United States.
Historic Impeachment
On Tuesday, Alejandro Mayorkas faced impeachment by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, a historic event marking the first Cabinet secretary impeachment since 1876.
This development came after a previous unsuccessful impeachment attempt last week.
What’s Next?
The case will now proceed to the Democrat-led Senate, where it seems unlikely that Mayorkas will be convicted and removed from his role.
‘History Won’t Look Kindly’
On the same day, President Biden criticized House Republicans for what he termed ‘playing political games’ by impeaching Mayorkas, suggesting that history ‘will not look kindly’ on their actions.
A Plea to Republicans
He argued that Republicans genuinely concerned about the border should support Congress in providing more resources and enhancing border security, rather than engaging in ‘political stuns.’
Controversial Bill
Biden lamented that the same Republicans advocating for Mayorkas’ impeachment are simultaneously rejecting bipartisan efforts aimed at strengthening border security, which his administration, including Secretary Mayorkas, have been actively pursuing.
Disappointment in GOP
The President concluded by expressing disappointment, saying, “Giving up on real solutions right when they are needed most in order to play politics is not what the American people expect from their leaders.”
Indian Migrant Influx
During the Biden administration, California has seen a surge in the number of Indian migrants arriving, reaching unprecedented levels. Between October and December 2023, U.S. borders experienced a total of 988,900 migrant encounters, as reported by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with a staggering 371,036 encounters in December alone.
Costly Immigration Challenge
According to the nonpartisan Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), California not only has the highest number of ‘illegal aliens’ but also the highest number with children living in the U.S. For Californians, the financial burden is considerable, amounting to about $22.82 billion for individual migrants, and rising to approximately $30.93 billion when accounting for their children, as per FAIR’s findings.
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