U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a report showing that illegal crossings remained low and steady through September, even though nearly 1.4 million migrants have legally entered the country under two controversial programs established by the Biden-Harris administration in less than two years. CBP reported a significant decrease in southwest border encounters, with a more than 55% drop in unlawful crossings following a proclamation issued by President Biden to secure the southern border. The agency also highlighted efforts to disrupt criminal organizations profiting from vulnerable individuals and the smuggling of illicit opioids.
The report credited President Biden’s June 5 proclamation for the decrease in unlawful border crossings and highlighted the removal or return of over 160,000 individuals to more than 145 countries by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) between June 5 and September. Additionally, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operated over 495 international repatriation flights during that period. CBP also introduced CBP One, a mobile app for migrants seeking asylum at the southern border, though the app has faced criticism for not properly vetting migrants. Applicants from Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and Haiti were among the top nationalities processed through the app.
Between January 2023 and September 2024, over 852,000 individuals successfully scheduled appointments at ports of entry through the CBP One app. The report noted that over 531,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela entered lawfully on commercial flights and were granted parole under the program. This initiative allowed migrants to use the app to enter the U.S. temporarily on parole and potentially receive a work permit if they passed background checks. The program faced opposition from Republicans who argued that it was an abuse of the parole system and only meant for urgent humanitarian cases or significant public benefit.
The program, first implemented for Venezuelans in 2022 and extended to other nationalities in 2023, received backlash from Republicans who accused the administration of running migrant flights. However, migrants participating in the program had to organize their travel, and the Biden-Harris administration defended the initiative as part of expanding lawful pathways amid the border crisis. Earlier this year, the administration announced that it would not extend legal status to migrants who came to the U.S. through the program due to fraud discoveries. Despite the pushback from Republicans, the White House maintained that the administration’s actions had led to a significant drop in unlawful border crossings.
In response to CBP’s latest report, the White House spokesperson emphasized that since President Biden’s executive actions to secure the border, unlawful crossings had decreased by over 55% to the lowest levels in four years. The spokesperson defended the administration’s efforts to address border security while criticizing Republicans for voting against a bipartisan border security agreement that would have increased personnel. The Biden-Harris administration was praised for taking effective action, while Republican officials were accused of prioritizing political games over border security. The report also underscored ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal organizations and prevent the smuggling of illicit opioids, showcasing a commitment to enforcing the border and protecting vulnerable individuals.
