The border chaos cooled off in June as illegal crossings at the southern border dropped, marking the best month since just after President Biden took office.

The Border Patrol in particular recorded just 83,536 apprehensions at the southern border, the best numbers since January 2021 and roughly a third of the rate in December, when a record-shattering 250,000 migrants were encountered. 

Mr. Biden also recorded the lowest monthly number of terrorism suspects sneaking across the southern border on his watch, with just three detected in June.

And he saw the second-lowest number of unaccompanied juvenile illegal immigrants enter.

Adult migrants did continue to stream in through other avenues, though, taking advantage of Mr. Biden’s “parole” programs that offer would-be illegal immigrants a chance for catch-and-release if they pre-schedule their arrivals.

That is by design.

Under Mr. Biden’s new approach to the border, he is trying to discourage people from sneaking across the U.S.-Mexico boundary by rewarding them for using his parole programs.

Republicans blasted that approach.

“Meanwhile, the national security, public safety, and fiscal consequences continue to worsen across our country, and will continue to be felt as long as Biden and Mayorkas release aliens with no robust vetting into our communities, regardless of how they arrive,” said Rep. Mark Green, Tennessee Republican and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

After December’s border breakdown, Mr. Biden has attempted several resets. His latest came in early June, when he announced a new get-tough approach to asylum claims, seeking to close a loophole many illegal immigrants had used to derail their deportations.

Those who showed up at the border were deemed to have a presumption against asylum.

Exceptions were made for unaccompanied juveniles.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.