Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics revealed there was a 37 percent border migration increase overall during the month of March when compared to February, but a 203 percent increase compared to March 2017.
Officials said a total of 37,393 individuals were apprehended between ports of entry on the nation’s Southwest Border in March, compared with 26,662 in February and 25,978 in January.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, CBP personnel apprehended 303,916 individuals along the Southwest Border, compared to 408,870 in FY16, 331,333 in FY15, and 479,371 in FY14.
“The crisis at our Southwest border is real,” Tyler Q. Houlton, Department of Homeland Security press secretary, said. “The number of illegal border crossings during the month of March shows an urgent need to address the ongoing situation at the border. Illegal aliens continue to exploit our immigration laws. We need to close these dangerous loopholes that are being taken advantage of each and every day, gain operational control of the border, and fully fund the border wall system.”
Officials referenced Office of Field Operations 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 U.S. laws; and individuals who withdraw an application for admission and return to their countries of origin within a short timeframe.