Encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border increased slightly in August after five months of decline, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection recording 107,503 encounters, a nearly 3% rise from July. Despite this uptick, the Biden administration highlights a significant overall reduction in illegal crossings since new asylum limits were introduced in June, resulting in a 50% drop in encounters. However, the administration also faces criticism for allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants into the U.S. through various legal pathways, including a mass parole program. The number of arrests at the southern border remains at its lowest level since September 2020, driven by stricter enforcement and executive actions. Migration continues to be a contentious issue in the upcoming presidential campaign, with former President Donald Trump criticizing the Biden administration's border policies.