Immigration In The 2024 Presidential Race: A Look At Biden And Trump’s Approaches

With immigration being a central issue in the 2024 presidential election, both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are making notable efforts to address the topic. The southwest border with Mexico has witnessed a surge in illegal migrant crossings since Biden assumed office. In response, there have been recent crackdowns on asylum seeker entries and an increase in deportations, suggesting that the current administration is taking the issue seriously.

Trump, actively campaigning for a return to the White House, promises to escalate deportations if elected, reinstating some of the stringent immigration policies from his first term. This ongoing political discourse reflects a broader concern about immigration and its implications for national security and social stability.

In this article, we'll delve into how the numbers on migrants, arrests, and the pathway to U.S. citizenship compare between the two presidents, illustrating the evolving landscape of immigration policy amidst the upcoming election.

Overall Encounters at the US Border

Since Biden took office in 2021, border crossings, particularly at the U.S.-Mexico border, have sharply increased. The year 2023 saw the highest number of encounters recorded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, totaling 3.2 million. This figure surpasses the peak of Trump's presidency, where encounters were recorded at 1.4 million in 2019.

The surge in crossings can be attributed to the lifting of the pandemic-era Title 42 measure, which previously allowed for immediate expulsions. Following this, Biden implemented stricter border controls in Spring 2024, signaling a shift in approach to handling immigration.

Encounters by Nationality

Mexicans represent the largest percentage of illegal crossings, although there was a slight shift in 2019 when migrants from Guatemala and Honduras began to increase. In 2022, the peak for Mexican crossings reached 808,340 individuals. However, the numbers have been declining over the past two years as the immigration landscape changes.

Additionally, other nationalities are slowly climbing the rankings due to a near-total border closure in 2020. Countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and El Salvador have recently started appearing more frequently in the top ten lists of crossings.

Encounters by Family Status

The majority of people crossing the border are single individuals. In 2019, family units topped the statistics with 527,000 encounters compared to 368,650 singles. However, COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 led to a noticeable decline in family crossings.

Unaccompanied minors peaked in 2022, with 155,020 encounters as many sought asylum from violence in Central America. This highlights the ongoing humanitarian aspects of immigration, as families and children continue to make perilous journeys in search of safety.

Arrests by Border Patrol

Since Biden's administration began, arrests of individuals with criminal convictions have increased significantly. The number peaked in 2023, with 35,433 detained individuals. Trump’s assertions about criminals pouring across the border contrast with studies indicating that American citizens are statistically more likely to commit crimes than new arrivals.

This demonstrates the complexity of immigration as a political issue, where narratives often clash with data-driven findings. The implications of such arrests also raise questions about the effectiveness of current immigration policies.

Immigrants in ICE Detention

During Trump’s presidency, ICE detentions peaked at 510,860 individuals in 2019. The demographic makeup of these detainees largely consisted of immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. While numbers dipped in 2020, they have steadily risen since then.

Notably, a significant percentage of those in detention are not convicted criminals; rather, they are categorized as immigration violators. Recent claims of abuse and neglect within ICE facilities have further sparked public outcry and calls for reform.

Rising Deportation Numbers

Despite Trump's promises of mass deportation, the reality under Biden has seen a dramatic increase in deportations. Over 1.4 million people were deported in 2022, with recent weeks seeing record numbers of repatriations. This contradicts the narrative that immigration enforcement has become lax.

Many deportations correlate with the nationalities in the top ten for new arrivals, suggesting a persistent cycle of migration and deportation. Republicans have voiced concerns about countries, including China, not cooperating enough for repatriations, intensifying the debate around immigration enforcement.

Asylum Claims

The Department of Homeland Security tracks credible fear claims, which are made by individuals seeking asylum at the border. Although total claims dipped between 2020 and 2022, they have rebounded since. During the early years of Trump's term, a high percentage of claims were approved, granting protected status to many migrants.

Under Biden, the balance between approved and denied applications has shifted, with new restrictions on asylum crossings likely affecting this year’s figures. The evolving legal landscape around asylum continues to be a critical aspect of the immigration debate.

Naturalizations

While discussion often centers on illegal immigration, the flow of legal immigrants becoming U.S. citizens remains steady. The highest number of naturalizations occurred in 2022, with 969,380 individuals granted citizenship. This underscores the ongoing opportunity for lawful immigration amidst the challenges faced at the borders.

Latest Immigration Totals by State

Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows immigration trends across states, with California, Texas, Florida, and New York housing the highest immigrant populations. This distribution highlights regional disparities in immigration and the varied experiences of immigrants across the U.S.

Legal Immigration Stats

The U.S. processes numerous legal immigrants each year, with many on paths to permanent residency and citizenship. A significant proportion of these are categorized as "non-immigrants," which includes temporary work, family, and student visas.

In 2021, the number of lawful permanent residents granted Green Card status increased, indicating a robust legal immigration system despite the challenges faced at the southern border. This duality of immigration—both legal and illegal—paints a complex picture of America’s immigration landscape.

Much of the data presented draws from the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, illustrating the ongoing significance of immigration in American society.

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