Overview

• Border arrivals during Biden's presidency peaked at 302,000 in December 2023 before dropping sharply to 58,000 by August 2024, the lowest since Trump left office.
• Key 2024 policy changes included Mexico's increased enforcement against migrants and Biden's executive order restricting asylum eligibility during surges.
• Democrats faced political backlash as migration issues ranked among top voter concerns in the 2024 election, contributing to Biden's party losing the presidency.
• Biden's administration initially struggled with mixed messaging, progressive opposition, and failed bipartisan efforts before adopting more restrictionist measures late in his term.
• The immigration court backlog swelled to over 3.7 million cases, with record closures in 2024, highlighting systemic challenges in managing migration.