December Witnesses Record-Breaking Surge in Illegal Border Crossings from Mexico, Subsequently Followed by January Downturn

In a revelation that underscores a growing concern for President Joe Biden's re-election prospects, December marked a historic peak in arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico, as announced by authorities on Friday. The Border Patrol recorded a record-breaking 249,785 apprehensions, witnessing a notable 31% surge from November's 191,112 and a 13% increase from the previous all-time high of 222,018 in December 2022.

While arrests experienced a significant decline by more than half in the first two weeks of January, a trend attributed to historical patterns and reinforced enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection acknowledged that Mexican authorities' intensified efforts also contributed to the January decrease.

Mexicans constituted the largest group with 56,236 arrests in December, closely followed by Venezuelans at 46,937, erasing a portion of the decline seen after deportation flights to Venezuela commenced in October. Notably, arrests of Guatemalans saw a substantial surge, with Hondurans and Colombians rounding out the top five nationalities.

Among the nine border sectors, Tucson, Arizona, retained its status as the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, recording 80,185 arrests. Del Rio, Texas, which has been a focal point of Governor Greg Abbott's enforcement initiatives, secured the second position with 71,095 arrests. San Diego, where nearly 6,000 Chinese nationals were detained, trailed as a distant third.

In a comprehensive view that incorporates migrants admitted through new or expanded legal pathways, total migrant encounters in December surpassed 300,000 for the first time, reaching 302,034. This shattered the previous high of 269,735 in September. Additionally, 45,770 individuals gained entry through land crossings with Mexico in December, utilizing the CBP One online appointment system, bringing the total to over 413,000 since its introduction a year ago.

The administration's extensive use of parole authority to permit migrants into the country has emerged as a significant point of contention in Senate discussions on border security.