Border apprehensions increase for first time since May

Immigration authorities in February apprehended more people attempting to cross the border illegally compared with the previous month, the first increase since May.

According to figures released Thursday by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there were 30,068 people apprehended last month, a 2.95 percent increase from January. The increase came from a rise in illegal border crossings from single adults and unaccompanied minors, CBP said.

In February, 3,076 unaccompanied children were apprehended, a 14.6 increase from January. Compared with a year ago, those apprehensions are down 54.8 percent.

Apprehensions of single adults rose 4.8 percent to 22,382 in February and are up 4.9 percent from February 2019.

Apprehensions of families, however, declined for a ninth consecutive month, with a 10.7 percent drop to 4,610 in February.

The Trump administration has focused much of its border control resources at lowering the number of family crossings.

Family unit apprehensions are down 87.4 percent on a year-over-year basis, largely as a result of the administration’s policies to limit prospective asylum-seekers from waiting out their cases in the United States.

The new policies — including the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as “Remain in Mexico” — have come under harsh criticism from immigrant rights groups, who point out that the programs have contributed to migrant families living in substandard conditions in refugee camps along the Mexican side of the border.