Migrant encounters in Texas on the U.S.-Mexico border are falling in a significant boost for the Biden-Harris administration.
The number of migrants encountered by Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley fell in July, continuing a monthly downward trend along the South Texas border this year, according to new data by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
CBP reports there were 5,040 migrant encounters by Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley sector in July, reflecting a 16% decrease from the 5,981 encounters in June.
Encounters in the Rio Grande Valley have dropped 58% since February, when there were 11,951 encounters.
Migrants cross into U.S. from Mexico through an abandoned railroad on June 28, 2024 in Jacumba Hot Springs, San Diego, California. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via AP
Qian Weizhong/AP
In Fiscal Year 2024, the Rio Grande Valley sector ranks fifth among the nine Southwest border sectors for migrant encounters. This marks a significant drop from previous years when the area consistently led the nation in the number of undocumented migrants crossing the South Texas border.
In July, the San Diego Sector recorded the highest number of migrant encounters nationwide with 15,563, followed by Arizona’s Tucson Sector with 11,722, and the El Paso Sector with 11,615. The Del Rio Sector in South Texas reported 7,237 encounters.
A CBP official told Border Report that the drop in migrant encounters is also attributed to increased efforts by Mexico south of the border. This includes more troops on Mexico’s southern border.
July saw the lowest number of crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border in four years, a statistic that is sure to be a boon for Democrats as the conventions continue in Chicago as immigration continues to be a key issue in the presidential election.
President Joe Biden stands with Vice President Kamala Harris on stage at the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia.
Patrick Semansky
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Friday that July saw a 32% drop over the prior month, partly due to President Joe Biden’s effective asylum ban signed in June.
There were 56,408 encounters at the southwest border, stretching along California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, last month, the lowest number since the height of the pandemic in September 2020, according to the CBP.
“In July, our border security measures enhanced our ability to deliver consequences for illegal entry—leading to the lowest number of encounters along the southwest border in more than three years,” Troy A. Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, said in a statement.
President Joe Biden said he and Vice President Kamala Harris are committed to “strengthening illegal immigration” during his speech at the Democratic National Convention.
While discussing immigration, he said, “Unlike Trump, we will not demonize immigrants, saying they poison the blood of America. Poison of blood of our country?
“Kamala and I are committed to strengthening illegal immigration, including protecting dreamers and more.”
The Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have been embroiled in a war of words over the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.
Abbott said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Texas won’t back down from the fight to keep America safe from the border crisis Joe Biden and Kamala Harris created.”
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com