Filipinos not among top US illegal entrants
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez

First Posted 13:44:00 06/17/2009



MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos were not among the top nationalities arrested for trying to cross the United States border illegally, the latest report by the US Office of Immigration Statistics said.

In it June 2009 report, the agency said that apprehensions made by the Border Patrol declined in 2008 at 723,840 persons from the 2007 figure of 876,803 persons. In 2005, apprehension reached its peak of 1,189,000.

The decrease in apprehension can be attributed to the financial crisis in the US and enhanced border enforcement efforts, according to the report.

There are close to three million Filipinos in the US, including 156,000 who are undocumented, according to 2007 figures.

Mexicans topped the nationality arrested in 2008 with 661,773 persons (91 percent), followed by Honduras (19,351), Guatemala (16,395), El Salvador (12,684), Cuba (3,351), Ecuador (1,579), Nicaragua (1,467), Brazil (977), China (836), Dominican Republic (819), Canada (610), and other nationalities (3,99.

Person apprehended are subject to deportation from the US for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Most apprehensions, occurring near US borders shortly after an illegal entry, are made by the Border Patrol of US Customs and Border Protection.

Apprehensions beyond US borders, involving foreign nationals illegally present in the United States who may have entered without inspection or entered legally but lost their legal status, are handled primarily by Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security.



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