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Southwest Border Unaccompanied Alien Children

Beginning last year and specifically in the last few months, CBP has seen an overall increase in the apprehension of Unaccompanied Alien Children from Central America at the Southwest Border, specifically in the Rio Grande Valley. While overall border apprehensions have only slightly increased during this time period, and remain at historic lows, the apprehension and processing of these children present unique operational challenges for CBP and HHS. Addressing the rising flow of unaccompanied alien children crossing our southwest border is an important priority of this Administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Secretary Johnson has already taken a number of steps to address this situation.

Southwest Border Unaccompanied Alien Children (0-17 yr old) Apprehensions

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2014 compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2013.

Sector

Fiscal Year 2013

Fiscal Year 2014

% Change

Big Bend Sector

125

256 105%

Del Rio Sector

2,135

3,268

53%

El Centro Sector

434

662

53%

El Paso Sector

744

1,029

38%

Laredo Sector

3,795

3,800

0%

Rio Grande Sector

21,553

49,959

132%

San Diego Sector

656

954

45%

Tucson Sector

9,070

8,262

-9%

Yuma Sector

247

351

42%

Southwest Border Total

38,759

68,541

77%

 

Southwest Border Family Unit Apprehensions

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2014 compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2013.

Sector

Fiscal Year 2013

Fiscal Year 2014

% Change

Big Bend Sector

102

176 73%

Del Rio Sector

711 4,950

>500%

El Centro Sector

365 630 73%

El Paso Sector

298 562 89%

Laredo Sector

1,688

3,591 113%

Rio Grande Sector

7,265 52,326

>500%

San Diego Sector

1,576 1,723

9%

Tucson Sector

2,630

3,812

45%

Yuma Sector

220 675

207%

Southwest Border Total 14,855 68,445 361%

 

U.S. Border Patrol Southwest Border and Rio Grande Valley Sector Other Than Mexicans

Fiscal Year 2014

Sector

Other Than Mexicans

Rio Grande Valley

192,925

Southwest Border

252,600

Unaccompanied Alien Children Encountered by Fiscal Year

Fiscal Years 2009-2013; Fiscal Year 2014

Country Fiscal Year  2009 Fiscal Year 2010 Fiscal Year 2011 Fiscal Year 2012 Fiscal Year 2013 Fiscal Year 2014
El Salvador 1,221 1,910 1,394 3,314 5,990 16,404
Guatemala 1,115 1,517 1,565 3,835 8,068 17,057
Honduras 968 1,017 974 2,997 6,747 18,244
Mexico 16,114 13,724 11,768 13,974 17,240 15,634