The number of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally dropped on Friday, according to a senior U.S. border official.
The decrease, about 20% to around 3,100 arrests, may suggest that the Biden administration’s new restrictive policy is starting to deter illegal immigration.
However, the official, speaking anonymously, cautioned that it’s too early to determine if this is a lasting trend but acknowledged it might indicate early success.
Immigration is a key issue as the Nov. 5 elections approach, where President Joe Biden, who has toughened his stance on immigration after initially reversing many of Trump’s policies, faces a rematch with Republican Donald Trump.
Biden’s new policy, implemented Wednesday, generally prevents migrants who cross illegally from claiming asylum, with exceptions for unaccompanied minors, people with serious medical or safety threats, and trafficking victims.
The policy aims to increase “expedited removal” deportations, with over 2,000 people daily placed in this fast-track process since Wednesday—double the previous rate.
There are still questions about the long-term effectiveness of these measures and whether U.S. authorities can handle the processing demands.
The American Civil Liberties Union has announced plans to challenge the new policy in court, comparing it to Trump-era asylum restrictions.
