These 31 Facts Show What’s Happening on the Border. You Decide If It’s a Crisis

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It is vitally important that Americans know exactly what is happening at the border. The argument over whether there is a crisis — either of sustainability, crime, drugs or humanitarian aid — must be founded on the facts. Further, discussion about border solutions and the urgency of implementing those solutions must be founded on the facts of the migrant situation.

1. As of March 31, 2019, 361,087 migrants have been apprehended between the ports of entry in 2019, representing a 108 percent increase over the same time in 2018.

2. In March alone, the Border Patrol averaged over 3,000 apprehensions each day. Historically, apprehension numbers climb during the summer months, meaning Border Patrol anticipates the number of apprehensions will only increase in the coming months.

3. There are three trends that make this migration flow a significant challenge for Customs and Border Patrol and the nation’s immigration system.

4. The first trend is that the majority of migrants arriving at the southwest border are members of family units.

5. In 2019 to date, the Border Patrol has seen more than a 374 percent increase in the number of family units apprehended, compared to the same period in 2018.

6. Family units and unaccompanied alien children combined make up more than 62 percent of all southwest border apprehensions. These populations are more vulnerable than single adults and require a more resource-intensive level of care.

7. This does not diminish the significance of single adult apprehensions. While the number of family units and UAC are increasing significantly, the flow of single adults has not stopped. In fact, it has increased as well. By the end of March 2019, the Border Patrol apprehended more than 135,000 single adults — the highest number in a fiscal year to date since 2014.

8. The second trend is the demographic makeup of this migration flow.

9. Eighty-three percent of all Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border are from the countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Unlike UAC from Mexico, federal law prevents the swift repatriation of UAC from Central America.

10. The third major trend is the increase in claims of a fear of return to a migrant’s country of origin. Between 2000 and 2013, less than one percent of those apprehended or encountered at our border claimed a fear of return.

Read the rest of the 31 FACTS HERE.

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