Migrant encounters at southern border on the rise again after Biden touted immigration policy reforms

Since President Biden took office in 2021, migrant encounters at the southern US border have been on the rise again after the former president imposed strict immigration policies. This is especially true in the cities of El Paso, Texas and San Diego, California. The influx of migrants at the southern border is largely due to Biden’s reversal of the Trump administration’s hardline policies. Biden has implemented reforms that focus on providing a pathway to citizenship for temporary protected status holders and their families, protection for Dreamers, and an end to the Migrant Protection Protocols, which forced asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting court proceedings. These progressive policies have encouraged more migrants to seek asylum in the US. Additionally, Biden has promised to move away from detention centers and instead focus on providing more resources to aid and integrate asylum seekers into US communities. This includes changes to the refugee admissions process that will help families with displaced children and provide financial aid for those displaced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration has also implemented a Contact Verification Program that aims to more easily process the continuous influx of migrants and ensure that they have access to legal counsel during their stay in the US. This program allows US immigration authorities to keep track of migrants by requiring them to check in periodically. While there have been increases in the numbers of migrant encounters at the southern border, Biden has stressed the need for a comprehensive and humane approach to the current situation. The administration has also made it a priority to work with Central American countries to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, corruption, and violence. This will hopefully reduce the number of asylum seekers seeking entry into the US.