{"text":[[{"start":8.26,"text":"Illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border stopped by US agents hit its lowest level this year since 1968, according to US data, after tougher policies under President Donald Trump transformed migration across the Americas."}],[{"start":23.482,"text":"The US Department of Homeland Security on Friday reported 98,708 apprehensions of people crossing the southern US border between ports of entry in the year to the end of September."}],[{"start":34.84,"text":"That is down from more than 2mn people in 2022 and 2023 under Joe Biden. Experts and migrants say that under the previous president people saw a more welcoming environment as an opportunity to escape political, economic and security crises in countries including Haiti and Venezuela."}],[{"start":53.4,"text":"“The results could not be clearer: strong enforcement works,” said DHS secretary Markwayne Mullin."}],[{"start":60.36,"text":"The fall in crossings began at the end of Biden’s presidency after he put in place rules that made it harder to claim asylum, with Mexico’s government also deploying increased forces in a crackdown."}],[{"start":72.04,"text":"But under Trump the decline quickened. He largely dismantled the US asylum system for those arriving at the southern border and accompanied the policy with an aggressive deportation campaign inside the country."}],[{"start":null,"text":"
"}],[{"start":84.52,"text":"“The overwhelming reason for the drop in migration is the disappearance of the right to apply for asylum at the border,” said Adam Isacson, senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America think-tank."}],[{"start":95.68,"text":"That means many migrants are not leaving their countries of origin, while others are choosing to stay in Mexico, which takes a tough stance on economic migrants but has a relatively broad policy for asylum seekers."}],[{"start":106.922,"text":"US border agents made the fewest number of apprehensions this year since 1968, when 96,641 people were caught crossing the border."}],[{"start":117.04,"text":"During Biden’s presidency, monthly apprehensions at the southern border frequently surpassed 200,000. The surging number of people attempting to enter the US became a major Democratic liability in the 2024 election."}],[{"start":131,"text":"Trump’s asylum restrictions were combined with a climate of fear generated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s aggressive raids within the US."}],[{"start":139.36,"text":"Detentions and deportations have risen sharply, with 65,765 people currently detained in ICE facilities, according to figures released in July."}],[{"start":147.6,"text":"“Even if you’re thinking of becoming a traditional non-asylum-seeking migrant who wants to evade apprehension, you’re probably not going to risk all of that just to have to dodge ICE raids once you arrive here,” Isacson said."}],[{"start":160.52,"text":"The largest group of people now being detained are Mexican males travelling alone. Isacson believes many of them are likely people who were deported and have families or livelihoods back in the US."}],[{"start":172.04,"text":"Mexico’s government said more than 271,000 Mexicans were deported from the US between January 2025 when Trump re-entered office through mid-August, mostly by land."}],[{"start":184.16,"text":"Declining migration into the US has caused the issue to fall down the ranks of voters’ priorities ahead of November’s midterm elections, with polls showing the economy and the cost of living among the top concerns."}],[{"start":195.8,"text":"Data visualisation by Eva Xiao"}],[{"start":203.68,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1792218461_3897.mp3"}