Land

Last week I visited El Salvador and Honduras.  I met with the Presidents and other senior officials of both countries.  While in both countries, I also visited reception centers that welcome those who have been sent home by the U.S. government after entering our country illegally.  I observed the arrival of a repatriation flight.  I am impressed with the efforts both governments are making to repatriate, resettle, and reintegrate their citizens who have been deported home by our country.

Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson met with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela to discuss bilateral collaboration on immigration and border security, and potential areas for regional engagement on these issues.

In February 2016, apprehensions by the Border Patrol on our southwest border – an indicator of total attempts to cross the border illegally – increased slightly from January, but remained substantially below the month-to-month numbers of apprehensions we saw in the latter part of 2015. The numbers of unaccompanied children and family members remained at the same levels as January, which is greatly reduced from the apprehension numbers at the end of 2015. The overall 10 percent increase from January is due to an increase in apprehensions of single adults, from 17,505 in January to 19,917 in February, 71.5 percent of whom are from Mexico. Notably, one year ago, in February 2015, the number of apprehensions of single adults was 19,950, and in February 2014 the number was 28,277.

Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson met with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to discuss President Morales’ priorities for his administration and the two countries’ continued cooperation on a number of shared economic and security issues.