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Illegal crossings at U.S. southern border reach lowest point of Biden presidency
The number of migrants crossing into the U.S. illegally at the southern border reached the lowest point of President Biden’s administration in September, three months into his crackdown on asylum claims, according to internal Department of Homeland Security statistics obtained by CBS News.
In September, U.S. Border Patrol agents recorded nearly 54,000 apprehensions of migrants who crossed into the country between legal entry points along the border with Mexico, the government figures show. It’s a smaller figure than the previous Biden-era low in July, when Border Patrol processed roughly 56,000 migrants who crossed the border without authorization.
Border Patrol’s tally of migrant apprehensions in September is the lowest number recorded by the agency since August 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions countries enacted in response to it led to a sharp decrease in migration to the U.S. southern border. It’s also a 78% drop from a record high in December, when illegal border crossings soared to 250,000.
U.S. immigration officials processed another 48,000 migrants in September at legal border entry points, known as ports of entry, according to the internal federal data. Most of them secured appointments to enter the U.S. via a phone app the Biden administration has transformed into the main gateway into the American asylum system.
September’s numbers show migration to the U.S.-Mexico border has plateaued following a precipitous drop at the start of the summer, when President Biden invoked sweeping presidential powers to disqualify most of those entering the country illegally from asylum. In July, August and September, Border Patrol agents at the southern border recorded between 54,000 and 58,000 migrant apprehensions each month.
Designed to be temporary, Mr. Biden’s move to sharply restrict asylum is likely to remain in place indefinitely after his administration made the policy’s deactivation threshold harder to meet last week. Vice President Kamala Harris has also vowed to continue the strict measure if elected president and make it even more difficult to lift.
The Biden administration’s support for drastic limits on asylum reflect a broader rightward shift on border policy by Democrats that would have been unthinkable in 2020, when the party faced pressure to reverse the Trump administration’s hardline immigration rules. It’s a shift that has occurred amid a marked increase in support for tough immigration measures among the American public.
The dramatic reduction in illegal border crossings this year, however, has given Democrats a much-needed political win on immigration ahead of the presidential election next month. Former President Donald Trump, who is pledging to carry out mass deportations if voters return him to the White House, has sought to make immigration a defining issue of the 2024 race for the president.
With September’s tally, fiscal year 2024 saw the lowest level in unlawful border crossings under the Biden administration. Border Patrol recorded over 1.5 million migrant apprehensions in fiscal year 2024, compared to a record high of 2.2 million in fiscal year 2022.
While the Mexican government’s efforts have also played a major role in the lower number of migrant arrivals along the U.S. border this year, American officials have credited Mr. Biden’s stringent asylum rules in June for the current four-year low in illegal immigration levels.
During its first three years in office, the Biden administration struggled to respond to an unprecedented migrant influx that was, in great part, fueled by arrivals from far-flung countries, including nations like Venezuela where the U.S. cannot deport migrants on a regular basis due to frosty diplomatic relations. In many cases, migrants were released into the U.S. with notices to appear in immigration court simply because the government did not have the resources and personnel to vet their asylum claims at the border.
But since Mr. Biden’s partial ban on asylum claims took effect, there has been an 80% drop in migrant releases, a senior Customs and Border Protection official told CBS News, requesting anonymity to speak candidly about migration trends. The U.S. government has long viewed migrant releases as a “pull” factor that fuels migration to the southern border, alongside economic conditions and other “push” factors in migrants’ home countries.
More than 70% of migrant adults and families apprehended by Border Patrol have been deported from the U.S. since Mr. Biden’s asylum crackdown began, up from 25% in May, according to DHS data. Since the policy took effect, the U.S. has carried out over 121,000 returns and deportations of migrants.
The asylum restrictions do not apply to unaccompanied children or those with acute medical conditions. It also exempts more than 1,000 migrants who enter the U.S. at legal border entry points each day under the phone app-power appointment system. The Biden administration has paired that process and other legal migration channels, including a program that allows migrants from four countries to fly to the U.S. if they have American sponsors, with the asylum restrictions to deter unlawful crossings through a carrots-and-sticks strategy.
While it has arguably been responsible for ending, at least temporarily, large-scale illegal crossings and chaotic images at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Biden administration’s asylum crackdown has been derided as an election gimmick by Republican lawmakers and a draconian policy by migrant advocates, who are challenging the policy in court.
In a conference hosted by the Migration Policy Institute last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas challenged those critical of the asylum restrictions to find an “alternative proposal,” calling the situation at the border before the policy change “unworkable.”
“We have to understand the fact that the American public does want, does expect and does demand the delivery of order,” Mayorkas said, adding later, “And I would respectfully submit that, at least in particular times over the past three years, we haven’t had order.”
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This might be the best chance in years for homebuyers sitting on the sidelines to jump into the market. Five years ago, the pandemic sent the real estate market on a turbulent journey — one that started with a huge influx of buyers as rates fell and then slowed to a crawl as mortgage rates skyrocketed to over 8%, their highest level since 2000 in October 2023.
However, the market has taken a positive turn in recent months, which is welcome news for potential homebuyers. In September, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in over four years, dropping the benchmark rate by 0.50% before reducing the rate again in November by 0.25%. Mortgage rates also dropped in tandem, and despite a recent uptick, mortgage rates are still nearly half a point lower than at this time last year, currently standing at 6.84%, according to Freddie Mac. The short housing supply that kept home prices high is also starting to ease. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), inventory has grown to about 4.3 months’ worth — the highest level in five years.
While housing market conditions have become more favorable for homebuyers, though, many are still struggling to take advantage due to heavy debt burdens, especially from high-interest credit card debt. Right now, cardholders are carrying an average of about $8,000 worth of credit card debt, and the Federal Reserve reports cardholders pay roughly 23% interest on that debt.
This scenario begs the question: Is it wise to buy a home while managing significant credit card debt?
Start comparing today’s top mortgage rates to find the right loan for you.
Should you buy a home if you have credit card debt? Here’s what experts say
We put the question to the experts, and here’s what they shared.
Buying a home may not be good idea
One of the most important considerations for homebuyers is whether they can comfortably afford the payments, as falling behind could put their home at risk of foreclosure. If credit card payments take up much of your budget, you might think twice before buying a home.
“If you find yourself with high-interest debt, purchasing a home might not be the right financial decision,” says Christopher Stroup, a certified financial planner at Silicon Beach Financial. “Credit card debt often comes with high interest rates, which can make them difficult to pay off. By prioritizing credit card debt repayment before buying a home, you can improve your financial stability and credit score, which could help you secure better mortgage rates in the future.”
Indeed, high credit card debt could make it harder to secure an affordable mortgage and create a difficult financial situation.
“You should pay most of your debt down. You might not be able to get the amount of mortgage you need. Your interest rate will be higher carrying debt, especially long-term debt,” Dottie Herman, vice-chair at national brokerage firm Douglas Elliman Real Estate, notes.
Learn how affordable your mortgage loan could be here.
Buying a home could still make sense
Deciding whether or not to buy a home while carrying credit card debt is a personal decision that may depend on your unique financial circumstances. If your debt is manageable and your long-term income outlook is strong, there may be a path to homeownership that allows you to make your mortgage payments while paying off debt.
“Evaluate your cash flow and create a plan,” says Sue Gardiner, owner and financial planner at South County Wealth Planning. “People are nervous when they carry debt or sometimes feel guilt over how it was acquired. And that’s ok. So, I say to clients, ‘Now we’re at this point and we just need to make a plan.’ The plan needs to have finite goals. For example, ‘I want to be consumer debt-free in 24 months.’ Then we can look at balancing a mortgage payment with debt paydown and cash flow needs.”
Always prioritize paying down debt
It’s always wise to pay off consumer debts for your overall financial health, especially if you’re preparing to purchase a home. Stroup recommends developing a repayment plan by listing all your debts, balances, interest rates and minimum payments. Then, follow a debt repayment strategy, such as the debt avalanche or debt snowball methods.
“Allocate extra funds towards your chosen repayment strategy while maintaining minimum payments on other debts,” says Stroup. “This approach requires discipline but can help you reduce your debt more efficiently and improve your credit score, making you a more attractive candidate for a mortgage.”
The bottom line
If you’re deciding whether to buy a home while carrying credit card debt, it’s helpful to identify the root cause of that debt to better understand your financial habits and whether you’re financially ready for homeownership.
“Being mindful of how the debt was acquired is important to keep in mind,” says Gardiner. “If it was due to a one-time immediate need, that’s different than accumulating due to other spending habits. Either way, being aware of your spending and saving habits will go a long way in helping you feel more control over your financial success.”
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Teen chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju becomes youngest world champion: “I did not really expect to win”
India on Thursday hailed chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju after the 18-year-old became the youngest world champion with a thrilling final win over China’s Ding Liren.
Gukesh surpassed a record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who won the title at age 22, after clinching a dramatic endgame in Singapore to be crowned champion.
Dommaraju burst into tears as the room erupted with cheers from spectators, the BBC reported.
“I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position,” he said, according to the Reuters news agency.
SIMON LIM/AFP via Getty Images
He also became the second Indian after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand to hold the title.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to what he described as a “historic and exemplary” achievement.
“Congratulations to Gukesh D on his remarkable accomplishment. This is the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination,” Modi wrote on social media.
“His triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence. My best wishes for his future endeavours.”
Anand, who played a mentor’s role in Gukesh’s remarkable journey, said the teenager had excelled.
“Congratulations! It’s a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India… and for me, a very personal moment of pride,” Anand said on X.
Gukesh won the final game, which appeared to be heading towards a draw that would have necessitated further tiebreak matches, after pouncing on a blunder by Ding.
“Ding seemed to have a risk-free chance to push for a win but instead liquidated into a pawn-down endgame,” Chess.com wrote in its post-game summary, according to the BBC. “It should have been drawn, but Ding blundered as the pressure grew.”
SIMON LIM/AFP via Getty Images
Indian sport shooter and Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra said the teenager has “inspired a generation.”
“Your brilliance, determination, and grace under pressure have made the entire nation proud,” said Bindra.
“You’ve not just won a title but inspired a generation to dream big. Wishing you even greater success ahead!”
Born to a doctor father and microbiologist mother in the south Indian city of Chennai, Gukesh became India’s youngest grandmaster aged 12 years, seven months and 17 days, and among the youngest in the history of the game.
He reached the world championship by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Candidates Tournament in April.
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