In May, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a 9% decrease in encounters with migrants attempting to cross into the United States without authorization, compared to April. This is the fifth consecutive month showing a decline in encounters, following a significant spike in December of last year. Border Patrol made 117,900 arrests of individuals trying to enter between official border crossing points during May.

Furthermore, CBP revealed a 17% decrease in encounters with migrants compared to the same month last year. The agency had reported 128,900 encounters in April, marking a 6% reduction from March. These preliminary numbers also indicate that there has been a 25% decrease in daily encounters since the implementation of asylum restrictions on May 5th, according to CBP.

The highest number of encounters in May was reported in the Tucson, Arizona sector with 33,226, closely followed by San Diego, California, with 32,504 encounters, and El Paso, Texas, with 23,470. The majority of intercepted individuals were Mexican nationals, comprising approximately 68% of all encounters. Single adults constituted the largest demographic group.

Troy A. Miller, the acting head of CBP, acknowledged the success of ongoing enforcement efforts in reducing southwest border encounters. However, he emphasized that the immigration system is not adequately resourced to handle the current influx of migrants.

It is important to note that these numbers reflect the first two weeks of implementation of the asylum restrictions, and migration patterns often shift during the summer months. CBP cautioned that changes in patterns could occur in the future.

These developments come amidst President Joe Biden's executive actions aimed at restricting asylum for most individuals attempting to cross the border without proper documents and expediting deportations. The President, who faces election year pressures to demonstrate the effectiveness of his immigration policies, had stated during the May 5th announcement that these actions would help regain control of the border and restore order to the immigration process.

However, civil rights and immigrant defense groups have criticized the restrictions, arguing that they may prompt migrants to seek alternative and more perilous routes, potentially resulting in another humanitarian crisis.

In another executive action issued earlier this week, President Biden extended parole and offered a potential path to legal status for approximately 500,000 undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, further emphasizing his administration's efforts to address immigration concerns.

As the situation continues to evolve, government agencies, civil rights groups, and immigrant defense advocates remain vigilant in monitoring the impact of these policies on border encounters and the well-being of migrant populations.