<p>US President Joe Biden on Thursday defended his handling of a rise in migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, saying the vast majority are turned back and that some families had been allowed into the country because Mexico would not accept them.</p>.<p>Speaking from the White House at his first formal news conference, Biden also said the increase in arrivals was part of a seasonal trend and happened under former President Donald Trump.</p>.<p>US Border Patrol caught roughly 100,000 migrants at the border in February, the highest monthly level since a surge in mid-2019. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said last week that border crossings are on pace for the highest level in 20 years.</p>
<p>US President Joe Biden on Thursday defended his handling of a rise in migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, saying the vast majority are turned back and that some families had been allowed into the country because Mexico would not accept them.</p>.<p>Speaking from the White House at his first formal news conference, Biden also said the increase in arrivals was part of a seasonal trend and happened under former President Donald Trump.</p>.<p>US Border Patrol caught roughly 100,000 migrants at the border in February, the highest monthly level since a surge in mid-2019. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said last week that border crossings are on pace for the highest level in 20 years.</p>