Border Patrol officers encountered more than 144,000 undocumented immigrants at the southwest border in May, the largest monthly total in 13 years, officials said Wednesday.
More than 132,000 were stopped while crossing the border illegally; the rest presented themselves at legal ports of entry, Customs and Border Protection officials said.
May marked the third month in a row that more than 100,000 immigrants were taken into custody at the border amid a surge of migrants heading north in large groups from the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
More than 19,000 immigrants are currently in CBP custody. Nearly 1,000 border patrol officers have been moved from northern ports of entry, airports, sea ports and elsewhere along the southwest border to assist border agents in areas experiencing the highest influx of migrants.
WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin
Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green cruises to Democratic primary win, sets up fall matchup with GOP nominee
Hawaii rep cruises to Dem primary win after challenger arrested for beach brawl
Trump’s 4th of July fireworks display on National Mall confirmed as largest in history
Florida man allegedly kills family’s kittens in front of teenage daughter as form of punishment: officials
Watch: WNBA Player Ejected After Nearly Taking Off Sophie Cunningham’s Head With Clothesline Maneuver
EXCLUSIVE: Teen girls recall Jersey Shore ride malfunction that left them stuck hanging upside down
Trump’s White House ballroom foes face ‘very tough argument’ at Supreme Court, legal experts say
Fauci in the congressional wringer: a test for Trump’s newly-minted Attorney General
Graham replacement hopefuls make final pitches before special election: Iran war, DSA, Flock cams and more
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what the Senate did and didn’t do overnight
One year on, US-brokered peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cements US foothold in the Caucasus
Joe Biden’s cancer has spread further, leaving him in ‘very painful’ condition, Hunter reveals
Florida business owners allegedly scattered 1,500 mothballs on beach to send endangered birds packing
“We are in a full-blown emergency, and I cannot say this stronger: The system is broken,” said acting CBP Commissioner John Sanders.
Of the 132,000 who were caught entering the country illegally, more than 84,000 were traveling as a family unit, 36,000 were single adults and 11,000 were unaccompanied children.
So far this fiscal year, 610,000 immigrants have been apprehended by CBP for illegally crossing between ports of entry. If the current numbers continue, they could surpass 2006 levels, said one official.
The monthly figures were released on the same day that American and Mexican officials are slated to hold high-level talks at the White House to discuss President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods.
Story cited here.
