U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that almost 60,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the border in fiscal year 2016, and almost hit the same level as 2014, when both parties declared that the situation at the border had turned into a humanitarian crisis.
CBP said 59,692 children were taken in during the fiscal year, up 49 percent from 39,970 children apprehended in the prior year. The surge shows the border crisis has returned, despite President Obama’s effort to convince Central American countries to do more to stop people from trying to enter the U.S. illegally.
The number of children taken in during fiscal 2016 is just a bit less than the 68,541 taken in during fiscal 2014.
Total apprehensions also soared in 2016, to 408,870 from 331,333 the prior year. That’s still under the 479,371 apprehended in 2014, but it’s also a 23 percent increase from last year.
The number of people in 2016 apprehended with at least one family member grew even when compared to the crisis year of 2014. CBP said 77,674 family unit apprehensions took place, up from 68,445 in 2014.
Border officials have said the U.S. election was a major cause of the new surge of illegal crossers. The group representing thousands of U.S. border agents said some feared a Trump presidency would shut off the border, which led to an increase in the number of people hoping to enter the U.S. before that happens.
But they said others were driven by the hope that Hillary Clinton would win and grant all illegal immigrants amnesty next year.
Others have said more and more illegal immigrants are seeking amnesty, and believe that they can’t be turned down once they make it into the country.
The Obama administration has tried for two years now to convince Central American countries that there is no amnesty program, and has also tried to get people to apply for legal status in the U.S. in their home country.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said the administration would continue to pursue that option, despite the worsening situation over the last few months. He also said Congress needs to find more money to help those efforts.
“Ultimately, the solution is long-term investment in Central America to address the underlying push factors in the region,” he said. “We continue to work closely with our federal partners and the governments in the region, and are pleased with the $750 million Congress approved in FY 2016 for support and aid to Central America.”
Johnson said border security is also a piece of the puzzle, but rejected Donald Trump’s idea for a wall on the southwestern U.S. border.
“Border security alone cannot overcome the powerful push factors of poverty and violence that exist in Central America,” he said. “Walls alone cannot prevent illegal migration.”
