Officials with the Department of Homeland Security reported last week that U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s January Southwest Border Migration numbers show that the flood across the southern border has not slowed.
“DHS front-line personnel are required to release tens of thousands of unaccompanied alien children and illegal family units into the United States each year due to current loopholes in our immigration laws. Once again, this month we saw an unacceptable number of UACs and family units flood our border because of these catch and release loopholes,” said Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Tyler Houlton. “To secure our borders and make America safer, Congress must act to close these legal loopholes that have created incentives for illegal immigrants and are being exploited by dangerous transnational criminal organizations like MS-13. The administration will continue to work with Congress to pass its responsible, fair and pro-American immigration framework that provides funding for the border wall system, ends chain migration and the diversity visa lottery, and creates a permanent solution for DACA.”
Southwest Border Migration FY2018
During the month of January, CBP saw a 12 percent decrease in individuals apprehended while trying to enter the country illegally in between established ports of entry, and in those presenting themselves for entry, without proper documentation, along our Southwest border. This is typical of the migration patterns in the month of January. Based on historic data, migration patterns have shown a decrease in apprehensions and entry attempts in the month of January since FY 2012.
U.S. Border Patrol Apprehensions FY2018 YTD(October 1 – January 31)
| USBP | Demographic | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Border | UAC | 3,158 | 3,981 | 4,078 | 3,227 | 14,444 |
| Family Units | 4,837 | 7,015 | 8,120 | 5,656 | 25,628 | |
| Southwest Border Total Apprehensions | 25,487 | 29,080 | 28,997 | 25,980 | 109,544 | |
In January a total of 25,980 individuals were apprehended between ports of entry on our Southwest Border, compared with 28,997 in December and 29,080 in November. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, USBP apprehended 303,916 individuals along our Southwest Border, compared to 408,870 in FY16, 331,333 in FY15, and 479,371 in FY14.
Office of Field Operations Inadmissibles FY2018 YTD(October 1 – January 31)
| Field Operations | Demographic | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Border | UAC | 630 | 677 | 913 | 709 | 2,929 |
| Family Units | 3,205 | 3,662 | 4,884 | 3,533 | 15,284 | |
| Southwest Border Total Inadmissibles | 9,362 | 9,911 | 11,514 | 9,842 | 40,629 | |
In January, a total of 9,842 people presenting themselves at ports of entry on the Southwest Border were deemed inadmissible compared to 11,514 in December, and 9,911 in November. In FY 2017 111,275 individuals were deemed inadmissible compared to 150,825 in FY16, 114,486 in FY15 and 90,601 in FY14.
OFO inadmissibility metrics include: individuals encountered at ports of entry who are seeking lawful admission into the United States but are determined to be inadmissible, individuals presenting themselves to seek humanitarian protection under our laws; and individuals who withdraw an application for admission and return to their countries of origin within a short timeframe.