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... Nearly 500 miles away, in the border city of Eagle Pass, large groups of migrants that were once commonplace are rarely seen on the riverbanks these days.

In McAllen, at the other end of the Texas border, two Border Patrol agents scan fields for five hours without encountering a single migrant.

It's a return to relative calm after an unprecedented surge of immigrants through the southern border in recent years. ...

Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other elected officials often refer to the country's "open border" with Mexico. Immigration is a top issue in the presidential election, and most American voters say it should be reduced.

But conditions on the border often shift more rapidly than political rhetoric.

Arrests for illegal crossings plummeted nearly 80% from December to July.

Summer heat typically reduces migration, but on top of that Mexican authorities sharply increased enforcement within their borders in December.

Plus, President Joe Biden introduced major asylum restrictions in June. ...