In recent news, the Department of Homeland Security reported a significant drop in migrant apprehensions at the US southern border since President Joe Biden’s executive action. The seven-day average has decreased by more than 40%, with less than 2,400 encounters per day.
Border authorities apprehended about 1,600 migrants on Monday, down from 1,900 apprehensions on Sunday. Despite this decrease, Biden’s executive order is still in effect, and senior administration officials have stated that the measure will only be lifted when daily encounters drop below 1,500.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the success of the executive order, stating that it is a promising sign that Biden’s actions to address the border crisis are working. The swift removal of over 24,000 people via repatriation flights has led to a 65% decrease in migrants released into the country pending immigration proceedings.
Furthermore, enhanced screening measures have helped identify known or suspected gang members, including members of the Venezuelan “Tren de Aragua” gang. Responding to these new figures, Lee Gelernt from the ACLU warned that migrants with credible claims of danger are being denied an asylum screening under the new restrictions.
Biden’s executive action aimed to tackle the ongoing crisis at the border, a pressing political challenge that has gained urgency ahead of the upcoming CNN Presidential Debate. The issue of immigration is likely to be a major topic at the debate, especially in light of recent events such as the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Houston by two men who were in the US illegally.
Mayorkas, who will travel to Tucson, Arizona, to review border enforcement efforts, emphasized the importance of holding criminals accountable with the fullest force of the law. CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg and Sam Simpson contributed to this report.
