New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire have seen a surge in illegal border crossings as migrants increasingly enter Canada to avoid detection, with U.S. officials recording a 41% increase in encounters at the northern border. The Swanton Sector has experienced a significant uptick, with over 3,100 apprehensions since October 2023, surpassing the total from the previous four fiscal years combined. Migrants, including families and children, have been found frozen to death while attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border, and federal prosecutors are building cases against human smuggling operations. Both U.S. and Canadian immigration officials are dealing with the influx, with some migrants being turned away while others are granted parole into the United States.
The U.S. and Mexico have intensified efforts to deter illegal border crossings, with the Mexican National Guard responding to a hole in the barrier fence near Jacumba Hot Springs, California. Daily apprehensions across the southern border have decreased by over 50% since December, but migrants are still gathering in the area. Many migrants enter Mexico via Tijuana International Airport and then journey to open areas of the border, often led by smugglers. Despite the decrease in apprehensions, there is a belief that there is a pent-up demand for crossing the border, and preparations are being made for a potential increase in illegal crossings.
Illegal border crossings from Mexico into the US decreased by 14% in October, ending a three-month streak of increases. The resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela on October 18th contributed to the decline, as arrests of Venezuelans dropped by 45%. Overall, arrests for illegal crossings totaled 188,778 in October, down from 218,763 in September. While the numbers remain high, this decline provides some positive news for the Biden administration, which has faced criticism for its immigration policies. The administration has implemented a combination of new legal pathways and stricter asylum regulations to address the situation at the border.
Venezuelans surpassed Mexicans as the largest group of nationals arrested for illegally crossing the U.S. southern border in September, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The number of encounters at the border increased by 21% from August, with Venezuelans accounting for 54,833 arrests, more than double the previous month. This shift in migration patterns reflects a change from Mexicans being the majority of illegal crossings to an increase in Central Americans, South Americans, Africans, and Asians. The Biden administration recently granted temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans already in the U.S. but has vowed to deport those who come illegally after July 31. The administration has also increased resources and personnel at the border to address the historic migration.
The number of migrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has been steadily increasing, with over 7,500 migrants apprehended on Sunday alone. This rise may indicate that the Biden administration's new policies, which initially kept numbers low, are having less of an impact. The policies make it harder for migrants to seek asylum at the border and easier for them to seek lawful entry from their home countries. Certain sectors of the border, such as the Rio Grande Valley and Del Rio, Texas, have been more affected, leading to overcrowding and the release of migrants onto the streets. The number of migrant children crossing with and without adults is also on the rise.
Illegal border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border dropped to their lowest level since President Joe Biden took office, with 99,545 individuals apprehended in June, a 42 percent decline from May. The Biden administration attributed the decrease to a combination of tough consequences for unlawful border crossers and expanded lawful pathways for legal immigration. The data release comes ahead of a federal judge hearing a challenge to the administration's asylum ban, which could impact its deterrence measures. While the declining numbers are seen as promising, the administration acknowledges that a comprehensive immigration reform is needed to address the broken immigration system.
The number of illegal border crossings from Canada into the northeast U.S. has increased tenfold in the last five months, with about 2,000 migrants crossing compared to just 200 in the same period last year. The migrants, mainly from Mexico, can travel to Canada without visas before crossing illegally into the U.S. to reunite with their families. Local law enforcement is calling for more U.S. Border Patrol manpower to help with rescues and deter migration. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has asked for increased enforcement or more authority for state police to patrol the border.
