Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Announces 50% Drop in Migrant Crossings at US Southern Border

The number of migrants crossing the United States southern border has dropped by 50% since the expiration of pandemic-related asylum restrictions on Thursday, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Mayorkas made the announcement Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” noting that the number of encounters along the border had dropped from more than 10,000 to 6,300 on Friday and 4,300 on Saturday.

The Homeland Security Secretary credited harsher penalties for unlawful entry for the immediate drop, but cautioned that it was “too early” to tell whether the migrant surge had peaked.

Mayorkas also said that the Biden administration would continue to enforce the law and that the Department of Homeland Security was working with Mexico and Central American countries to address the root causes of migration.

The Biden administration has also implemented a number of measures to ensure the safety of migrants, including providing access to medical care, food, and shelter.

The drop in border crossings is a welcome sign for the Biden administration, which has been working to address the influx of migrants since taking office in January. It remains to be seen whether the decrease in crossings will be sustained in the coming weeks.