Fact check: Number of illegal immigrants under biden

1. Summary of the results

The data reveals a complex picture of illegal immigration under the Biden administration. The unauthorized immigrant population reached a record 14 million in 2023, with preliminary data showing continued growth into 2024 before decreasing in 2025 ^[1]. Border encounters rose to record highs under the Biden administration but have dropped significantly in recent months ^[2].

The Trump administration claims a 93% decrease in daily border encounters and a 99.99% reduction in migrant crossings through Operation Tidal Wave enforcement operations ^[3]. However, fact-checkers note these claims are misleading and overemphasize data from a short time period, as immigration trends naturally ebb and flow regardless of administration ^[4].

Public sentiment has shifted dramatically - the percentage of Americans wanting less immigration dropped from 55% in 2024 to 30% today, with a record-high 79% of adults now saying immigration is good for the country ^[5]. Support for stricter border control and aggressive deportation policies has eased, particularly among Democrats and independents ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original query lacks crucial context about policy implementation and external factors. The Biden administration's policy changes allowed many immigrants to arrive with protected status, contributing to increased unauthorized immigration numbers ^[1]. However, the administration also issued executive orders to quickly deport migrants and implemented border security measures ^{[2] [6]}.

External factors significantly influenced these numbers - efforts by the Mexican government contributed to decreased crossings ^[2], and novel policies like the busing of migrants from border states to interior cities by Texas and Arizona frustrated federal efforts ^[7].

The data shows that encounter numbers don't equal permanent residents - some migrants are returned or attempt multiple entries, making raw encounter statistics potentially misleading ^[2]. The Biden administration faced political opposition that prevented delivery on legalization for unauthorized immigrants ^[7].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's framing as "number of illegal immigrants under Biden" contains potential bias by:

• Using politically charged language ("illegal immigrants" vs. "unauthorized immigrants")
• Implying sole presidential responsibility for complex immigration patterns influenced by global factors, state policies, and congressional action
• Lacking temporal specificity - immigration numbers fluctuated significantly throughout the Biden presidency

Political actors benefit from different narratives: The Trump administration benefits from emphasizing recent decreases while downplaying record highs under Biden ^[3]. Conversely, Biden administration supporters can point to recent policy successes and external factors beyond presidential control ^{[2] [7]}.

The oversimplification serves political interests rather than providing comprehensive understanding of immigration dynamics, which involve federal policy, state actions, international cooperation, and global migration pressures.