The new Biden administration policy on illegal southern US border crossings is analyzed in a recent CNN data analysis. The policy, announced on Tuesday, bars migrants crossing the border illegally from seeking asylum, except for limited exceptions, if the number of encounters by border agents exceeds a daily average of 2,500. This threshold has been consistently surpassed for the last few years, with the peak reaching over 8,000 encounters in December. The surge in crossings is part of a global increase in migration over the past five years, influenced by factors such as economic disparities from the pandemic and climate change.
During the pandemic, federal authorities quickly expelled hundreds of thousands of migrants encountered at the US southern border, a restriction that was lifted last year. The analysis found that since January 2021, average daily encounters between migrants and US Border Patrol at the southwestern land border have consistently exceeded 2,500. To lift the new policy, the daily average needs to drop to less than 1,500 for seven consecutive days between ports of entry, a level not seen since July 2020.
The increase in migration over the last half-decade is attributed to a worldwide rise in migration, influenced by uneven recovery from the pandemic and other crises. The goal of the new rule appears to be quick deportations, with higher thresholds for migrants to state a fear of return to their home country. The impact of the policy on border crossings remains to be seen, with encounters between ports of entry declining since January, but still at high levels. It is expected that the rule may lead to a decrease in border arrivals, but the true impact will become clearer as time goes on.
Before 2019, daily averages close to or below 1,500 at the southern border were not uncommon, with only a few months exceeding 45,000 encounters between Border Patrol and migrants from 2014 to 2018. However, since 2019, only a few months had fewer than 45,000 encounters, largely during the height of the pandemic. The rise in migration is linked to factors such as economic disparities and climate change, leading to a surge in migration from multiple countries. The new policy aims to expedite deportations and presents higher thresholds for migrants seeking asylum, potentially impacting border crossings in the future.
In conclusion, the new Biden administration policy on illegal southern US border crossings is designed to address the surge in migrant encounters by implementing stricter asylum rules. The policy sets thresholds for daily average encounters and aims to expedite deportations for those crossing the border illegally. The impact of the policy on border crossings remains to be seen, but it is expected to lead to a decrease in arrivals. The rise in migration over the past five years is influenced by global factors such as economic disparities and climate change, contributing to a worldwide increase in migration. The new policy reflects the administration’s efforts to address the ongoing challenges at the US southern border in a way that balances security and humanitarian concerns.
Discussion about this post