July border arrests decrease but expected to total a record 2 million by next month

Customs and Border Protection encounters for the month of July dipped below 200,000 for the first time in months, according to statistics released this week, as the Biden administration closes in on 2 million apprehensions by CBP by the end of next month.

In total there were 199,976 encounters, with 166,792 unique encounters and 22% of all encounters in July were from repeat offenders, CPB said Monday.

In about 37% of encounters, migrants were processed and extricated under Title 42 authority, which is still in place as the legal battle over that policy makes its way through the courts.

"This marks the second month in a row of decreased encounters along the Southwest border. While the encounter numbers remain high, this is a positive trend and the first two-month drop since October 2021," said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus.