Border crossings down, but many migrants released to U.S. to ease crowding

© Danielle Villasana/For The Washington Post Migrants hoping to turn themselves in to seek asylum in the United States in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on May 13. But unpublished data obtained by The Washington Post on Friday shows far more migrants were released into the United States over the past week than deported or returned to their home countries. What occurred was the opposite: Record numbers of migrants rushed to enter the United States before — not after — the expiration of the pandemic rules. But if migrants are being released into the United States to await a court hearing, she said, that could inspire others to follow. Migrants who attempt to enter the United States without an appointment are subject to new tighter asylum restrictions enacted by the Biden administration to discourage illegal crossings.