Surge in Migrant Encounters at Southern Border Despite Policy Reforms

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that there were 183,503 migrant encounters at the southern border in July, lower than last year but higher than June. The Biden administration had previously touted the lower numbers in June as a sign that its immigration policies were effective. The drop in numbers was attributed to various policies, including expanded parole programs and efforts to address root causes. However, the number of illegal entries between ports of entry increased in July. The surge in migrant numbers has led to concerns about capacity at Border Patrol sectors, prompting the administration to request additional agency volunteers and increase the number of ICE special agents at the border. Republicans have criticized the administration's handling of the crisis and called for stricter border security measures. The Biden administration has defended its approach, citing a broken immigration system and calling for additional funding and comprehensive immigration reform.