Biden border restrictions bring sharp drop in illegal crossings

President Joe Biden's administration continues to battle the complex issue of immigration, with recent policies reportedly leading to a significant reduction in illegal border crossings. The administration's shift in immigration strategy follows earlier criticism over a considerable upswing in unauthorized border crossings since Biden took office in January. Biden has repealed many of Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies, leading to an initial surge in illegal crossings. However, revised strategies, like expelling most single adults and families under a public health order known as Title 42, appear to be having an effect. Title 42 was first invoked by the Trump administration at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to expel migrants to Mexico immediately after capture, citing health risks. The U.S. Border Patrol encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border fell in August 2021, marking a significant decrease for the first time in the year. However, the number still remains significantly high compared to past years. It's worth noting that while the decrease in crossings shows a positive outcome of the Biden administration's immigration policies, it has nonetheless drew criticism from immigrant rights activists who say it's a continuation of Trump-era restrictions and turns a blind eye to humanitarian issues. Similarly, Republican critics note that while numbers may have dropped, they're still considerably high and demonstrate a lack of effective border control. The administration faces the ongoing challenge of balancing border control with a more sympathetic approach to immigration, amid pressure from multiple sides of the political spectrum.