Illegal immigration spikes along U.S.-Mexico border
Illegal immigration spikes along U.S.-Mexico border
https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/med...d7c5afb9aa165b
Friday, July 7, 2017
Illegal immigration across the southwest border rose yet again in June, according to the latest Homeland Security figures released Friday that show a noticeable jump over the past two months.
Border Patrol agents nabbed 16,089 illegal immigrants trying to sneak in, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers identified another 5,570 illegal immigrants who showed up without authorization at the ports of entry.
The combined 21,659 illegal immigrants is still the lowest numbers for June in years, but the spike is worrisome because illegal immigration generally begins to slow in the summer months. Indeed, the past four years saw an average drop of 10 percent in Border Patrol apprehensions in June — but this year saw an 11 percent rise.
The number of illegal immigrant children and families also rose sharply. Unaccompanied children spiked 31 percent in June, compared to May, and the total number of people coming as families shot up a stunning 47 percent last month.
The numbers could end up spurring action on President Trump’s border wall, which had been attacked as unnecessary earlier this year as the numbers of those attempting to cross the border plunged to 40-year lows.
Experts say the number of people caught is a rough yardstick of how many people are trying to cross, so a rise in apprehensions signals a rise in the overall level of illegal immigration.
CBP acknowledged the increase, but said the numbers are still well below where they were during the latter years of the Obama administration.
“These numbers represent a 53 percent decrease as compared to June of 2016,” the agency said.
Officials did not offer an explanation for the spike, which now has spanned two months.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...mexico-border/
