Fewer migrants are crossing America’s southern border

A few statistics recurrently launched by authorities companies set the hearts of America’s political institution aflutter. Month-to-month inflation figures are eagerly awaited by Democrats who wish to show that Bidenomics helps the center class, and by Republicans howling that it’s a failed socialist experiment. Jobs figures have a lot the identical impact. These days, one other measure has joined that listing: month-to-month “encounters” of migrants at America’s southern border.

Figures launched on Could fifteenth present that, after a peak in December of 302,000 apprehensions, probably the most ever, encounters on the border tumbled by 42% to roughly 180,000 and have stayed comparatively flat since January (see chart). That’s nonetheless excessive in contrast with pre-pandemic figures, however it’s a marked enchancment, and one which President Joe Biden will be glad about in an election year.