Border patrol arrests of non-citizen criminals entering the United States through the Mexico border are set to reach an eight-year high.
Since President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021, the number of criminals entering the U.S. through the border with Mexico has sharply increased compared to Donald Trump's presidency.
Figures this year are on track to exceed previous years as in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which runs from 1 October until 30 September, there have already been 13,130 arrests. At an average of 1,092 a month, and with three months of the fiscal year remaining, this year's total is likely to exceed last year's total of 15,267.
In the final fiscal year of the Trump administration, 2019-2020, only 2,438 non-citizens were arrested by Border Patrol in connection with a crime, compared to 10,763 in 2021.
The figure rose to 12,028 in 2021-2022 before spiking to 15,267 arrests in 2022-2023, which is the highest figure in the last eight years, according to data gathered by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
In 2023-2023, there were 8,790 criminal convictions for non-citizens trying to illegally enter the U.S. compared to 2023-2024, which has seen 8,103 convictions so far.
Evidence shows the number of arrests has steadily increased throughout Biden's administration and demonstrates there is a significant increase in the number of foreign criminals entering the United States.
With over 1000 arrests of non-citizen criminals per month, it suggests the numbers will surpass last year's statistics.
Immigration is an important issue for the electorate, and evidence suggests voters are shifting towards right-wing policies, as a recent poll from CNN/SSRS suggests less than a third of voters prefer President Biden's border policy.
On immigration, voters were asked if they thought Biden or Trump would better handle the issue as the US president. Only 28% of voters said they prefer Biden, while 50% prefer Trump, and 21% responded with "neither of them."
The U.S.-Mexico border is a highly contentious issue between Democrats and Republicans.
Polling data shows that immigration finished third on the list of national priorities behind the economy and protecting democracy. Immigration finished ahead of abortion, health care, climate change, and foreign policy. The poll was conducted between June 28 and 30 and used a sample of 1,274 respondents.
The Trump campaign claimed Biden's border security policies have turned cities into "cesspools of bloodshed and crime."
Trump Campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Newsweek: "Joe Biden's open border has allowed tens of millions of illegal criminals to invade our country and create a new wave of migrant crime in every state. On day one, President Trump will secure the border and empower local law enforcement to arrest criminals and deport illegal aliens."
Representative Mark Green, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, said: "President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas' historic border crisis has empowered dangerous criminals, cartels, and gang members to exploit our Southwest border. By encouraging a massive influx of illegal border crossers with perverse incentives, the Biden administration has made it nearly impossible for Border Patrol agents and Custom officers to fully vet individuals."
In a recent post on X, California Governor Gavin Newsom hit out at the former president over border security.
"Trump said the southern border is the most dangerous place in the world'. FACT CHECK: It's not", he said
Newsweek has contacted the CBP for a comment.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
