Illegal border crossings surged under Biden's presidency, reaching record highs between 2021 and 2023, exceeding 2 million annually. This overwhelmed cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver. While crossings decreased after stricter border controls and asylum system changes, apprehensions remained high at over 1.3 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2024.
Despite high illegal crossings, Biden's administration deported or returned more people (roughly 740,000 in the year after Title 42 ended) than any year since 2010, surpassing Trump's average annual total. This was partially due to the increased number of illegal crossings. The Biden administration also released over 3.3 million border crossers into the US since 2021.
Biden paused most interior deportations upon taking office, prioritizing national security threats and violent criminals. Deportations by ICE decreased significantly compared to Trump's administration, averaging about 35,000 annually under Biden. Worksite enforcement, commonly known as raids, were also halted.
Biden's use of parole, allowing temporary migrant entry, has been historically expansive. While his administration claims this reduced illegal crossings, Republicans argue that this exceeds its legal authority.
Biden increased refugee admissions compared to Trump, aiming to rebuild the program. However, the current intake still falls short of the annual cap set by the administration.
Naturalization applications initially surged during and after Trump's election. However, during his term, naturalizations lagged due to backlogs and financial problems at USCIS. Biden's administration restored the old citizenship exam and encouraged applications, resulting in higher numbers than under Trump, though still lower than Biden's earlier years.
The immigration court system faced an enormous backlog under both Biden and Trump. Under Biden, the number of cases more than doubled, exceeding 3 million. The extended wait times for hearings, often over five years, encourage further illegal immigration.