Shumita Basu

southern border, illegal crossings have diminished significantly, with migrant encounters with Border Patrol reaching historic lows in March. Crossings began to drop in the final year of the Biden administration, and The Wall Street Journal notes that some of the policies employed toward the end of Biden's term have benefited Trump's immigration goals.

southern border, illegal crossings have diminished significantly, with migrant encounters with Border Patrol reaching historic lows in March. Crossings began to drop in the final year of the Biden administration, and The Wall Street Journal notes that some of the policies employed toward the end of Biden's term have benefited Trump's immigration goals.

At one point during Biden's term, there were about 250,000 Border Patrol arrests in a single month. In March of this year, that number was just over 7,000. Meanwhile, NPR reports that some immigrants in the U.S. without legal status are considering self-deporting or leaving the country of their own volition. It represents an explicit strategic approach from the Trump administration.

At one point during Biden's term, there were about 250,000 Border Patrol arrests in a single month. In March of this year, that number was just over 7,000. Meanwhile, NPR reports that some immigrants in the U.S. without legal status are considering self-deporting or leaving the country of their own volition. It represents an explicit strategic approach from the Trump administration.

At one point during Biden's term, there were about 250,000 Border Patrol arrests in a single month. In March of this year, that number was just over 7,000. Meanwhile, NPR reports that some immigrants in the U.S. without legal status are considering self-deporting or leaving the country of their own volition. It represents an explicit strategic approach from the Trump administration.

Here's NPR immigration correspondent Jasmine Garst.

Here's NPR immigration correspondent Jasmine Garst.

Here's NPR immigration correspondent Jasmine Garst.

Like this ad featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that was part of a $200 million ad campaign.

Like this ad featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that was part of a $200 million ad campaign.

Like this ad featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that was part of a $200 million ad campaign.

Aside from the ads, the headlines speak for themselves in encouraging people to consider self-deportation. People have been taken off the streets by immigration officers with no warning. Some have been deported and imprisoned in El Salvador with no due process. Others are lingering in ICE detention centers that are becoming overcrowded and unsanitary.

Aside from the ads, the headlines speak for themselves in encouraging people to consider self-deportation. People have been taken off the streets by immigration officers with no warning. Some have been deported and imprisoned in El Salvador with no due process. Others are lingering in ICE detention centers that are becoming overcrowded and unsanitary.

Aside from the ads, the headlines speak for themselves in encouraging people to consider self-deportation. People have been taken off the streets by immigration officers with no warning. Some have been deported and imprisoned in El Salvador with no due process. Others are lingering in ICE detention centers that are becoming overcrowded and unsanitary.

Garst told us that Trump isn't the first to push a strategy of self-deporting. Back during the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney proposed self-deportations as part of his immigration plan and received wide mockery, including from Trump.

Garst told us that Trump isn't the first to push a strategy of self-deporting. Back during the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney proposed self-deportations as part of his immigration plan and received wide mockery, including from Trump.

Garst told us that Trump isn't the first to push a strategy of self-deporting. Back during the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney proposed self-deportations as part of his immigration plan and received wide mockery, including from Trump.

The question then was for people who had fought so hard to flee danger in their countries and pursue a life in the United States, why would they choose to leave? But Garst told us that now people are in fact grappling with that very difficult choice.

The question then was for people who had fought so hard to flee danger in their countries and pursue a life in the United States, why would they choose to leave? But Garst told us that now people are in fact grappling with that very difficult choice.

The question then was for people who had fought so hard to flee danger in their countries and pursue a life in the United States, why would they choose to leave? But Garst told us that now people are in fact grappling with that very difficult choice.