The Reasons Behind the Unprecedented Increase in Border Crossings Between the US and Mexico

The Biden administration is facing a significant challenge as migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border reach record levels. Recent polls indicate that a majority of Americans disapprove of President Biden's handling of the issue. Even his likely opponent in the upcoming presidential election, Donald Trump, has criticized Biden's approach as not being tough enough, a sentiment shared by many conservative lawmakers in Congress. However, it's not just Republicans who are unhappy about the situation. Democratic mayors in cities struggling to cope with the influx are also expressing their concerns. Under President Biden, more than 6.3 million migrants have been detained crossing into the US illegally, surpassing the numbers under Trump, Obama, and George W. Bush. The reasons for this spike are complex and go beyond the control of the US government. The rise in numbers began towards the end of the Trump administration, driven mainly by Central Americans fleeing various crises such as gang violence, poverty, political repression, and natural disasters. However, the pandemic-related restrictions in early 2020 led to a drastic reduction in border crossings. Once these restrictions were lifted in 2021, the numbers started increasing again, reaching an all-time high of over 302,000 in December 2023. According to experts, the demographics of the migrants have also diversified. In addition to Central Americans, migrants now come from as far as West Africa, India, and the Middle East. The greatest increase in migrants from outside the Americas is seen from China, with over 37,000 Chinese nationals detained at the US-Mexico border last year, a significant increase from two years ago. The increase in migrant figures at the US-Mexico border is not isolated, as worldwide migration to affluent countries is at an all-time high. OECD statistics show a significant increase in permanent migrants to its member states in 2022, with the US being second only to Germany in terms of humanitarian migration. Experts also note that the change in US administration in 2021 contributed to the situation. President Trump's emphasis on building a border wall and increasing deportations, although not fully realized, created the perception that entering and staying in the US would be more difficult. President Biden, on the other hand, implemented policies focused on deterrence and parole, which led some migrants to believe that it would be easier to enter and stay in the US. Human smugglers exploited this change in presidency to create urgency among migrants to hurry to the border. While some immigration activists criticize the Biden administration and lawmakers for failing to pass meaningful immigration reform, others argue that the last significant overhaul of the system took place more than 30 years ago under Ronald Reagan's presidency.