Statement by Secretary Johnson on Southwest Border Security
Yesterday, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson issued a statement on “Southwest Border Security.” Here is the introduction:
“In Fiscal Year 2016, total apprehensions by the Border Patrol on our southwest border, between ports of entry, numbered 408,870. This represents an increase over FY15, but was lower than FY14 and FY13, and a fraction of the number of apprehensions routinely observed from the 1980s through 2008. Apprehensions are an indicator of total attempts to cross the border illegally. Meanwhile, the demographics of illegal migration on our southern border has changed significantly over the last 15 years – far fewer Mexicans and single adults are attempting to cross the border without authorization, but more families and unaccompanied children are fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. In 2014, Central Americans apprehended on the southern border outnumbered Mexicans for the first time. In 2016, it happened again.”
| Category | FY13 | FY14 | FY15 | FY16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Unaccompanied children |
38,759 | 68,541 | 39,970 | 59,692 |
| Family members | 14,855 | 68,445 | 39,838 | 77,674 |
| Individuals | 360,783 | 342,385 | 251,525 | 271,504 |
| Total | 414,397 | 479,371 | 331,333 | 408,870 |
KJ