A recently released report compiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that the number of Border Patrol apprehensions of both unaccompanied children and family units crossing the border illegally rose through the first six months of fiscal 2016, which ended on March 31.
The CBP report provided month-by-month statistics for the number of unaccompanied children and family units apprehended along our nation’s Southwest border during fiscal years 2012 through 2016. (The fiscal years run from October 1 each year through March 31 the following year.)
The most significant figures on the latest report indicated that during the first six months of fiscal 2016 Border Patrol officials apprehended 27,754 unaccompanied children — a 78-percent jump from 15,616 apprehended during the same period in 2015. This figure was only slightly less just than the 28,579 apprehended in 2014 — the year in which the flood of such unaccompanied children crossing the border illegally made the national news.
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The increase in family units entering illegally was even greater. A report in The Hill noted:
For family units, which consist of at least one child traveling with at least one adult, the increase was even more dramatic. In the first six months of 2016, 32,117 families were apprehended, the CBP reported — an increase of 131 percent from the 2015 figure (13,913) and 62 percent from the 2014 figure (19,830).
The Hill’s article cited Kevin Appleby, the director of international migration policy at the Center for Migration Studies, who offered several explanations for the increase in illegal migration. A key motivating factor, said Appleby, is the violence plaguing Central America, specially in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The extreme violence in these countries has caused their populations to flee north seeking a safe haven. “The forces driving the migration are still strong,” said Appleby.
An article on the CBP website accompanying the results of the report downplayed the increase in apprehensions, stating:
March 2016 apprehensions by the U.S. Border Patrol were generally in line with seasonal trends we have observed in prior years. While these March apprehension numbers are higher than those from March 2015, they are significantly lower than those from March 2014.
The message went on the say:
As Secretary [of Homeland Security Jeh] Johnson has said repeatedly, our borders are not open to illegal migration, and we will continue to enforce the immigration laws and secure our borders consistent with our priorities and values.
Though Johnson has repeatedly asserted that our government will continue to enforce the immigration laws and secure our borders, many of the very people charged with accomplishing that objective — our Border Patrol agents — have complained that they have not been allowed to do their job.
Testifying before the National Security Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee on March 23, Brandon Judd, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, said: “As someone who has been involved in border protection for over 18 years, I can unequivocally tell you the border is not secure and the situation is getting worse instead of better.”
Other law-enforcement personnel working near the border have complained about the Obama administration’s lack of support for the Border Patrol’s efforts. On March 8, Pinal County, Arizona, Sheriff Paul Babeu, speaking at his office, charged that “[the Obama] administration has handcuffed the Border Patrol.”
Babeu spoke at a joint press conference with leaders of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), which represents approximately 18,000 Border Patrol Agents and support personnel assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol.
During his talk, Babeu noted that the number of illegal immigrants crossing our border during the first four months of this fiscal year has risen by 25 percent. Furthermore, he noted, there has been a 102-percent increase in unaccompanied juveniles crossing illegally. “What we see from this administration is an actual reduction [in the number of Border Patrol agents] at a time we should be providing more support to secure our border,” Babeu said.
More recently, while appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Shawn Moran, vice president of the NBPC, shed additional light on border situation:
I think the American people don’t understand the full breadth of this problem. We have a president who has appointed a commissioner of Customs and Border Protection [Gil Kerlikowske] who is more political than ever, and they have carved out our immigration laws by policy, where border patrol agents are basically letting everyone we catch out the door. That’s not border security. We need a president who understands the problem, who is going to put the right political appointees in there, and who is going to let border patrol agents go out and enforce the law.
The NBPC recently endorsed Donald Trump for president. Union president Judd said upon announcing the endorsement:
Our union endorsed Donald Trump because he is the only candidate, Democratic or Republican, who is speaking to what is actually going on at the border. He was the only candidate in fact that reached out to seek our endorsement. Do we agree with every statement Mr. Trump has made in this campaign — no. Do we like the tenor of this entire campaign — no. But Mr. Trump has offered to listen about how we can improve border security and that is something that no other candidate in this race has done.
Related articles:
Border Patrol Union Says It Was Ordered to Release Aliens “Still Wet” From Crossing Rio Grande
Arizona Sheriff: Obama Administration Has “Handcuffed” Border Patrol
DHS Inspector General’s Report Notes “Security Issues” Along S.W. Border
National Border Patrol Council Raises Alarm; Detainees Simply Being Released
National Border Patrol Council Endorses Trump for President
Border Patrol: Arrests of Pakistanis, Afghans Up This Year
Border Patrol: Obama Has “No Intention” of Deporting Illegals
Border Patrol Agents Ordered to Stand Down in Enforcing Immigration Laws
Arizona Sheriff: Obama Administration Has “Handcuffed” Border Patrol
Obama’s Double Migration “Surge”: Muslim “Refugees” and Unaccompanied Children
DHS Inspector General’s Report Notes “Security Issues” Along S.W. Border
Border Patrol Agents Ordered to Stand Down in Enforcing Immigration Laws
Border Patrol Union Leader Sees Surge in Unaccompanied Children Coming
Border Patrol Agent: Obama Admin. Releasing Murderers Into U.S.
Former Border Patrol Agents: Illegal Immigration Crisis “Contrived”
Obama Opens Borders, Releases Illegal Immigrants Into U.S.
Border Patrol Union Leader Says Administration Offers “De Facto Amnesty”
Flood of Illegal Immigrants Now Includes Gang Members
Mishandling of Illegal Immigrant Minors Continues
Obama Administration’s Futile Response to Illegal Immigrant Minors
Obama Administration Weakens Illegal Immigration Enforcement
Report: Obama Immigration Policy Partly Responsible for Deaths of Americans
