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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 to date (October 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014) compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2013.

Sector

Fiscal Year 2013

Fiscal Year 2014

% Change

Big Bend Sector

122

244 100%

Del Rio Sector

1,943

3,150

62%

El Centro Sector

396

612

55%

El Paso Sector

693

945

36%

Laredo Sector

3,503

3,629

4%

Rio Grande Sector

19,247

48,475

152%

San Diego Sector

589

877

49%

Tucson Sector

8,480

7,867

-7%

Yuma Sector

236

328

39%

Southwest Border Total

35,209

66,127

88%

 

Southwest Border Family Unit Apprehensions

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2014 to date (October 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014) compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2013.

Sector

Fiscal Year 2013

Fiscal Year 2014

% Change

Big Bend Sector

97

164 69%

Del Rio Sector

591 4,839

>500%

El Centro Sector

347 592 71%

El Paso Sector

290 530 83%

Laredo Sector

1,514

3,487 130%

Rio Grande Sector

6,002 50,619

>500%

San Diego Sector

1,424 1,617

14%

Tucson Sector

2,436

3,668

51%

Yuma Sector

207 626

202%

Southwest Border Total 12,908 66,142 412%

 

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

Fiscal Year 2014 through August 31

Sector

Other Than Mexicans

Rio Grande Valley

185,220

Southwest Border

242,329

 

Unaccompanied Alien Children Encountered by Fiscal Year

Fiscal Years 2009-2013; Fiscal Year 2014 through August 31

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 15,800
Guatemala 1,115 1,517 1,565 3,835 8,068 16,528
Honduras 968 1,017 974 2,997 6,747 17,975
Mexico 16,114 13,724 11,768 13,974 17,240 14,702