According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), July witnessed the lowest number of crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border in four years. This significant drop in encounters is expected to have a positive impact on the Democratic party as they gear up for their convention, with immigration remaining a central issue in the upcoming presidential election.

CBP reported a 32% decrease in encounters in July compared to the previous month, attributing the decline in part to President Joe Biden's effective asylum ban signed in June. The southwest border, spanning across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, saw a total of 56,408 encounters last month, marking the lowest number since the peak of the pandemic in September 2020.

Troy A. Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, emphasized that the implementation of enhanced border security measures in July played a crucial role in curbing illegal entry. Miller stated in a press release, "In July, our border security measures enhanced our ability to deliver consequences for illegal entry - leading to the lowest number of encounters along the southwest border in more than three years."

CBP highlighted that the current encounter numbers are even lower than the monthly average for the entirety of 2019, the year preceding the implementation of stringent border measures by the Trump administration amid the pandemic. The reduction in encounters can be largely attributed to President Biden's executive order, which placed a cap on asylum entries and effectively halted them.

Since June 4, encounters between ports of entry have declined by 55%, with CBP reporting the removal or return of over 92,000 individuals to their home countries. Additionally, the number of immigrants undergoing expedited removal, bypassing immigration court proceedings, has tripled since the rule was enacted on June 5.

Collaborative efforts with international partners have also been instrumental in managing migration. Mexico has ramped up its own measures in recent months to dissuade individuals from reaching the U.S. border. CBP continues to work closely with these partners to combat transnational criminal organizations that profit from chaos while endangering human lives.

Furthermore, CBP highlighted their substantial efforts in addressing the fentanyl supply chain, targeting transnational criminal organizations and disrupting supply chains operating on either side of the border. Just a few weeks ago, CBP seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the agency's history. Since the start of the fiscal year in October 2023, CBP has confiscated over 17,900 pounds of the dangerous opioid.

In addition to addressing border security concerns, the parole program has provided protections to individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Since January 2023, more than 520,000 individuals have been granted protected status under this program. Although the scheme was temporarily paused due to concerns of fraud, the Department of Homeland Security is actively working to restart the program as soon as possible.

The considerable reduction in border crossings can be seen as a positive development for the Democratic party as they head into their convention, placing immigration at the forefront of the national conversation. However, it remains to be seen how this statistic will shape the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and their impact on the upcoming presidential election.