President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador are swiftly implementing new measures to address illegal migration. These steps include tougher enforcement at railways, buses, and airports, and increased repatriation flights for migrants from both the U.S. and Mexico.
The leaders announced these measures after a call on Sunday focused on their joint efforts to manage migration and the U.S.-Mexico border effectively. They have directed their national security teams to immediately implement specific actions aimed at reducing illegal border crossings.
John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, stated that the U.S. and Mexico will enhance enforcement measures to prevent major transportation modes from being used for illegal migration. They also plan to increase the number of repatriation flights to return migrants to their home countries and respond promptly to surges.
Recent data shows a decline in arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border in contrast to the usual seasonal trend of increasing migration as weather improves. U.S. officials attribute this decline to expanded enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Henry White/Shutterstock)
Kirby acknowledged the successful collaboration, noting, “The teamwork is paying off,” while cautioning that historically, border crossings tend to rise in May, June, and July as temperatures increase. The U.S. will continue working closely with Mexican authorities during these months.
Meanwhile, there has been an increase in arrests in San Diego, which has become a busy corridor for illegal crossings. In the week ending Friday, arrests totaled 9,513, marking the third consecutive weekly increase from 6,695 arrests in early April, according to Patricia McGurk-Daniel, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego sector.
These new measures come as President Biden considers potential executive actions to further address migrant arrivals at the southern U.S. border. Following the failure of border legislation in Congress earlier this year, the White House is considering executive orders on asylum rules to potentially reduce migrant numbers at the border.
