New figures from the Obama administration show the rate of illegal immigrants being detained at the Mexican border is on the rise among families and unaccompanied minors.
The
U.S. Customs and Border Protection data show that 27,754 children aged 17 and under have been apprehended at the border this year, up from 15,616 in all of 2015. Two years ago, the total figure was 28,579.
Further, 32,117 members of families have been nabbed at the border this year — significantly higher than the 2014 (19,830) and 2015 (13,913) totals.
As was the case last year, children from Guatemala are the largest group of unaccompanied minors who have been apprehended at the border in 2016. The data shows that families from El Salvador are the most prevalent in that group.
One possible reason for the surge in border numbers are Donald Trump's repeated calls for a tighter border. The presumed Republican presidential nominee wants a border wall constructed and even came up with
a way for Mexico to pay for it.
Immigrants' fears of being deported have led to an increased number of them
applying for U.S. citizenship.
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