The number of attempted border crossings has dropped by more than half since President Biden’s executive action in June 2024, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In August 2024, there were 58,000 encounters at the U.S. southwest border. This is about 68% lower than in August 2023 and below the average for 2019, the last comparable year before the pandemic. At the northern border, increased enforcement efforts led to over 30% fewer encounters in August 2024 compared to June 2024.

The new Biden asylum policy, implemented in June 2024, stopped noncitizens from entering at the southern border. It also paused asylum claims for people who crossed the border illegally. This partial asylum shutdown will stay in place until daily crossings drop below an average of 1,500 for two weeks. If the weekly average rises to 2,500, the restrictions will be reactivated.

Since Biden’s executive action, DHS has expelled over 130,000 individuals and organized more than 400 repatriation flights to over 140 countries, according to CBP. Immigration rights groups have challenged this executive action, arguing that these measures are illegal. The lawsuit is still ongoing.

As always, we actively monitor ongoing U.S. immigration issues. If you have questions about asylum or any other U.S. immigration-related topic, contact us. We work with our clients every step of the way to maximize their odds of a successful outcome.