How many immigrants arrived at the US borders during the biden administration
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1. Summary of the results
Based on the available analyses, the question about immigrant arrivals during the Biden administration reveals a complex picture with varying metrics and timeframes. The most comprehensive figure comes from official data showing 8.6 million migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border from January 2021 through October 2024 [1]. However, this number represents encounters rather than unique individuals, as many are repeat crossers attempting multiple border crossings.
The data shows significant fluctuations throughout the Biden presidency. Encounters reached a record high of nearly 250,000 in December 2023, but subsequently dropped dramatically to fewer than 8,400 irregular crossers in April 2025, representing levels not seen since the 1960s [2]. This dramatic decline is attributed to policy changes implemented by the Biden administration in early 2024 and increased enforcement by Mexican authorities.
Beyond border encounters, the unauthorized immigrant population provides another perspective on arrivals. The U.S. unauthorized immigrant population reached a record 14 million in 2023, representing an increase of 3.5 million in two years - the biggest increase on record [3]. This population grew from 10.5 million in 2021 to 14 million in 2023, suggesting substantial arrivals during the Biden administration's tenure.
Additionally, more than 5.8 million migrants had been paroled in or otherwise allowed entry to pursue asylum applications and other immigration cases as of July 2024 [1]. This figure represents individuals who were processed through legal pathways rather than apprehended at the border.
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question lacks crucial context about the complexity of immigration measurement and policy implementation. The analyses reveal that the Biden administration implemented significant policy changes, including the Securing the Border rule and the expansion of the CBP One app for legal entry processes [1]. These policy shifts fundamentally altered how migrants could enter the country legally versus illegally.
The data also shows that the Biden administration took a more 'humane' approach compared to the Trump administration, expanding parole processes for certain nationalities while still facing criticism from both immigration advocates and Republican opponents [4]. This suggests that the administration's approach involved both enforcement measures and expanded legal pathways.
An important missing element is the distinction between different types of arrivals. The analyses indicate that encounters include both apprehensions and inadmissibles, and many represent repeat attempts by the same individuals rather than unique arrivals [1]. The question also doesn't account for seasonal variations, policy implementation timelines, or the impact of external factors like increased Mexican enforcement.
The dramatic decrease in encounters by 2025 suggests that policy changes implemented in early 2024 had substantial effects on border dynamics [2], but this context is absent from the original question's framing.
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
While the original question appears neutral, it contains an implicit assumption that could lead to misleading interpretations. By asking for a single number of "immigrants who arrived," the question oversimplifies a complex system with multiple entry categories, legal statuses, and measurement methodologies.
The question fails to distinguish between encounters (which include repeat attempts), unique individuals, legal versus unauthorized entries, and different types of immigration status. This framing could inadvertently promote misleading narratives that treat all border activity as equivalent or that ignore the substantial policy changes implemented during the administration.
The timing aspect also presents potential bias, as the question doesn't specify whether it seeks data through the end of the administration or up to a particular date. Given that encounter levels dropped to historic lows by April 2025 [2], the timeframe significantly affects the narrative interpretation of the data.
Furthermore, the question doesn't acknowledge that immigration measurement involves multiple agencies and methodologies, and that official government sources provide ongoing monthly data on encounters and inadmissibles [5] rather than simple arrival counts. This complexity means that any single number provided in response would necessarily be incomplete or potentially misleading without proper context about what it represents and how it was calculated.