Border security takes center stage at RNC. Here's the actual data under Trump, Biden

Former President Donald J. Trump wants to "make America safe once again." That was the theme of Tuesday's Republican National Convention as border security, drug trafficking, and crime took center stage.

"We are facing an invasion on our southern border ? not figuratively, a literal invasion," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday night. "Look around you. This arena holds about 18,000 souls. Now imagine 639 arenas just like this filled to the brim."

Americans are showing increasing concern around immigration issues, a Gallup Poll from February showed. For the first time in a decade, Americans said immigration is the most important issue facing the country. A separate survey by the Pew Research Center showed that 80% of Americans said the government is doing a "bad job dealing with the large number of migrants at the border."

How have Trump and President Joe Biden each approached concerns about border security? Here's what we found:

Border encounters hit a record high

The Trump administration promised "the largest deportation effort" in U.S. history if elected again.

During his presidency, about 935,000 non-residents were deported, while there had been about 340,000 such deportations under Biden through February, NBC News reported, citing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

U.S. Border Patrol encounters have increased over the past decade. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, border encounters primarily included people apprehended while illegally entering the country, according to USAFacts, a nonprofit that provides analysis on U.S government data.

Under the Trump administration, the Border Patrol began expelling migrants without giving them the opportunity to seek asylum. This action was carried out under a public health provision called Title 42.

When Biden first took office, he vowed to reverse some of Trumps strict immigration policies, including turning away unaccompanied minors who arrived at the U.S. border without a parent or guardian. His administration temporarily kept Title 42 until it expired in May 2023.

Since taking office, the number of people taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol under the Biden administration reached a record high, averaging 2 million people per year, according to the Washington Post.

How much money does the U.S. spend on border security?

Last year, the Biden administration said its budget allocates nearly $25 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

You can keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the 2024 Republican convention and watch the livestream here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Border security focus at RNC: Here's the real data under Trump, Biden