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What are President Biden's challenges at the border? What are President Biden's challenges at the border?
(25 days later)
Since taking office in January, US President Joe Biden has been beset by a string of crises at the southern US border. US President Joe Biden entered the White House promising to tackle immigration challenges that have remained unsolved for decades.
From criticism over deportations and the treatment of Haitian immigrants to an influx of unaccompanied children and concerns about Covid, there's been no end to the challenges the administration faces along the border with Mexico. Yet since he took office in January, the US has seen a record influx of migrants at its southern border, prompting criticism of the administration's policies from across the political spectrum.
Despite those challenges, Mr Biden has vowed to make good on sweeping promises to reform US immigration, vowing to "take urgent action" to undo the policies of Donald Trump. Some two million "encounters" between government agents and migrants near the border are expected by the end of 2021, Mr Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told US senators on Tuesday - including about 125,000 unaccompanied minors who have already been taken into the government's care.
Here's what we know. In a contentious hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr Mayorkas repeatedly defended the Biden administration's handling of immigration and border issues.
Border detentions spike to 21-year high But he admitted that rebuilding "a broken immigration system" will take time.
Will things get worse before they get better?
Here's what we know about the situation.
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Life after deportation: 'I am living the Mexican dream'
Why the spike under Biden?
While the number of migrants at the border had been steadily increasing since April 2020, the numbers spiked sharply after Mr Biden took office.While the number of migrants at the border had been steadily increasing since April 2020, the numbers spiked sharply after Mr Biden took office.
Migrants continue to cross the border in one of two ways. Those who "have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution" in their home country are eligible for asylum when they present themselves at a port of entry for admission into the US. Economic problems in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Cuba worsened during the pandemic, forcing some to take on a long and perilous journey north. Gangs and violence have also been given as reasons why some left home.
Others may evade immigration inspectors and border patrol by hiding in vehicles or travelling undetected across unprotected and often treacherous sections of the US-Mexico border. There was also a sense shared by some that the new US president would adopt a more relaxed border approach than his predecessor Donald Trump.
Though he has avoided Mr Trump's rhetoric, Mr Biden has repeatedly called on migrants, including asylum seekers, not to attempt the journey to the US.
Despite the slight decline in September, the number of migrant encounters still represents about a 33% increase from the 144,000 recorded in May 2019 - the highest total of the Trump administration.
There's also been a sharp increase in the number of children crossing the border.
How do they get into the US?
Migrants cross the border in one of two ways. Those who believe they "have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution" in their home country are eligible to apply for asylum when they present themselves at a port of entry for admission into the US.
Others may evade border officials by hiding in cars or travelling undetected across unprotected - and often treacherous - parts of the US-Mexico border.
According to the Pew Research Center, at least 40% of unauthorised migrants in the country entered legally on short-term visas and overstayed.According to the Pew Research Center, at least 40% of unauthorised migrants in the country entered legally on short-term visas and overstayed.
While Mr Biden has avoided the harsh rhetoric of Donald Trump, his predecessor, he has still repeatedly called on migrants to not attempt the journey to the US. Biden defends a Trump policy
In August, over 208,800 people were detained crossing the border. The figure marked a reduction from July, when 212,672 people were taken into custody - a 21-year high. On Covid, Mr Biden kept a Trump-era emergency policy to automatically expel almost all undocumented migrants seeking entry, bypassing normal immigration laws and protections.
Despite the August slight decline, the number of migrant encounters still represents about a 45% increase from the 144,000 recorded in May 2019 - the highest total during the Trump administration. The policy - known as Title 42 - is aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 in holding facilities, officials say.
There's also been a sharp increase in the number of children crossing the border. Of August's total, 18,847 were teens and children not travelling with a legal guardian, about in line with figures from the previous month. The measure sparked controversy in September when the Biden administration used Title 42 to deport nearly 4,000 Haitian migrants who had been detained at the border city of Del Rio, Texas.
During the Trump administration, by comparison, the highest number of unaccompanied minors over a single month was approximately 11,000.
Title 42 Expulsions
On Covid, Mr Biden has so far left a Trump-era emergency policy in place.
The policy - known as Title 42 - is aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 in holding facilities, officials say. It allows US authorities to automatically expel almost all undocumented migrants seeking entry, bypassing normal immigration laws and protections.
The controversy surrounding Title 42 was starkly highlighted in September, when the Biden administration used the policy as justification to deport nearly 4,000 Haitian migrants without allowing them to seek asylum.
Why are so many Haitians at the US-Mexico border?Why are so many Haitians at the US-Mexico border?
In contrast to Mr Trump, Mr Biden has decided not to refuse entry to unaccompanied migrant children or teenagers. Some families are also exempt. The Biden administration has defended the Trump-era policy in courts, where civil rights groups have argued that it violates existing US asylum laws. Politicians from Mr Biden's own Democratic party have also spoken out against the policy.
The Biden administration has defended the Title 42 policy in courts, where civil rights groups have argued that it violates existing US asylum laws. Politicians from Mr Biden's own Democratic Party have also spoken out against it.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in August that the policy will remain in effect until the spread of Covid by non-citizens stops being a "serious danger" to public health.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in August that the policy will remain in effect until the spread of Covid by non-citizens stops being a "serious danger" to public health.
It plans to review the situation every 60 days.It plans to review the situation every 60 days.
Reuniting Families In contrast to Mr Trump, however, Mr Biden has decided not to refuse entry to unaccompanied minors and some families.
As mandated by US anti-trafficking laws, Mr Biden's administration has been transferring most immigrant minors to shelters overseen by the government. (Children from Mexico, however, are still being repatriated, which has been criticised by Amnesty International and other organisations). Separating families
The administration had previously been criticised for placing migrant children in detention centres at times when shelter space was limited. In response to the influx of unaccompanied children, the administration reopened several previously shuttered detention centres. One of the most substantive changes in border policy under Mr Biden has been a shift in how the government deals with migrant families.
A so-called "zero-tolerance" policy under Mr Trump meant families divided by US authorities, in some cases with parents being deported back to their home countries without their children.
Mr Biden has reversed that specific practice, and some families - but not all - have been reunited.
A task force set up by the president estimated that 3,913 children had been separated from their parents.
As of September, authorities were still trying to reach the parents of 303 children separated from their families, according to a court filing.
Unaccompanied children
As mandated by US anti-trafficking laws, Mr Biden's administration has been transferring non-Mexican minors to shelters overseen by the government.
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Watch: Texas migrant camp "kids feel like they're in prison"Watch: Texas migrant camp "kids feel like they're in prison"
Activists - and some fellow Democrats - accused Mr Biden of repeating the policies of Mr Trump, who himself had also come under fire for the detention centres. Critics of the administration previously suggested that holding children in those facilities harkened back to a Trump-era policy, though children were being held for less time under Mr Biden.
In May, the number of children held in those facilities declined by nearly 90% after they were transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for temporary resettlement. In May, the number of children held in detention facilities declined by nearly 90% after they were transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for temporary resettlement.
Mr Biden has also reversed a so-called "zero-tolerance" policy under the Trump administration that saw families divided by US authorities, in some cases with parents being deported back to their home countries without their children. Remain in Mexico policy
Some families - but not all - have been reunited. On Mr Biden's first day in office, his administration suspended a controversial Trump-era policy that forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their US immigration hearings.
According to a reunification task force set up by the Biden administration in January, 3,913 children had been separated from their families between 2017 and 2018. Since it was introduced in January 2019, about 70,000 migrants were enrolled in the programme informally known as Remain in Mexico.
A September court filing from the Justice Department and American Civil Liberties Union said that authorities are still trying to reach the parents of 303 children. In February, the Biden administration began to gradually process these would-be asylum seekers, allowing them into the US while their cases are heard.
The Remain in Mexico Policy It has since allowed about 13,000 people to enter the country to await the outcome of their cases.
On Mr Biden's first day in office, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suspended a controversial Trump-era policy that forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their US immigration hearings. The initiative has become the focus of intense legal wrangling.
Efforts to end the policy - known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) - are now bogged down in legal wrangling. In August a federal judge said that ending the Remain in Mexico programme was unlawful after two states brought suit against the Biden administration.
In August, the US Supreme Court ordered the president to revive it, rejecting a bid to block a Texas-based judge's ruling requiring it be brought back. Democrat Joe Biden has promised to undo the 'cruelty' of Trump-era immigration policies
DHS has appealed the decision. On Wednesday, it said it would uphold the order "in good faith" but still plans to issue a new memorandum terminating MPP in the coming weeks. The decision was appealed, but in late September, Texas' attorney general filed a lawsuit to try to force the administration to reinstate the Trump policy.
Separately, in late September, Texas' attorney general filed a lawsuit to try force it to be reinstated. Border wall
About 70,000 migrants were enrolled in the programme since it was introduced in January 2019. Mr Biden signed an order on his first day in office to pause all wall construction and to end the national emergency declaration on the southern border.
Shortly after Mr Biden's inauguration, his administration began to gradually process these tens of thousands of people waiting in Mexico, allowing them into the US while their cases are heard. He later ordered that military funds Mr Trump had tapped for the project be diverted, leading to a Republican-requested inquiry into whether Mr Biden had inappropriately re-directed congressionally approved funds.
So far about 13,000 people enrolled in MPP have been allowed to enter the country to await the outcome of their cases.
Refugee cap
On 27 September, the US State Department announced that the government plans to increase the number of refugees allowed into the US to 125,000 for the fiscal year that begins on 1 October.
While still a candidate, Mr Biden had made a reform of Mr Trump's historically low refugee cap of 15,000 a major campaign promise.
In April, however, many of Mr Biden's supporters expressed dismay after his administration announced initial plans to keep the 15,000 refugee cap in 2021.
Following intense public backlash, Biden raised the number to 62,500 refugees.
About 110,000 refugees were admitted to the US in the last year of Barack Obama's final presidential term.
Mr Biden also called for more refugees to come from Africa, the Middle East and Central America, and for an end to restrictions on resettlements from Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
Border Wall
After coming into office vowing not to build "another foot" of Mr Trump's border wall, Mr Biden signed an order on his first day in office to pause all wall construction and to end the national emergency declaration on the southern border.
He later ordered that military funds Mr Trump had tapped for the project be re-allocated, leading to a Republican-requested inquiry into whether Mr Biden had inappropriately re-directed congressionally approved funds.
Property owners near the border have complained that despite the pause, the government is still seeking to seize borderlands for future construction using a process known as eminent domain.Property owners near the border have complained that despite the pause, the government is still seeking to seize borderlands for future construction using a process known as eminent domain.
Dozens of eminent domain cases brought by the federal government remain open and could take years for the courts to decide.Dozens of eminent domain cases brought by the federal government remain open and could take years for the courts to decide.
Some wall construction sites remain abruptly abandoned, with building materials strewn about, as construction had been ongoing right up until the moment of Mr Biden's order to halt. Some wall construction sites remain abruptly abandoned, with building materials strewn about, as construction had continued right up until the moment of Mr Biden's order to halt.
Refugee cap
On 27 September, the US Department of State announced that the government plans to increase the number of refugees allowed into the US to 125,000 for the fiscal year that began on 1 October.
With the move, Mr Biden fulfilled one of his campaign promises. During his presidential bid, Mr Biden repeatedly criticised Mr Trump's decision to set the annual refugee cap at 15,000 - a historic low.
Mr Biden had stunned his supporters in April by announcing plans to only allow 15,000 refugees into the US in 2021. The annual refugee cap was set by Mr Trump the year before. Following intense public backlash, he raised the number to 62,500 refugees.
About 110,000 refugees were admitted to the US in the last year of President Barack Obama's final term.
Mr Biden also called for more refugees to come from Africa, the Middle East and Central America, and for an end to restrictions on resettlements from Somalia, Syria and Yemen.