The latest statistics release by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency show a staggering increase in apprehensions and encounters along the southwest border.
Particularly, compelling are the 2020 and 2021 comparisons, in which the month of April 2021 showed a 944% increase from April 2020.
Note: Demographics for U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations include:
- Accompanied Minors
- Family Unit Apprehensions (FMUA)
- Single Adults
- Unaccompanied Children (UC)
Below is the final apprehensions data for 2020 as a whole.
Office of Field Operations Southwest Border Encounters FY 2020
| Field Operations | Demographic | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Border | Unaccompanied Alien Child | 360 | 369 | 416 | 396 | 420 | 247 | 29 | 42 | 88 | 83 | 105 | 127 | 2,682 |
| Family Units* | 3,998 | 4,138 | 3,458 | 3,037 | 2,507 | 1,180 | 22 | 73 | 98 | 61 | 106 | 86 | 18,764 | |
| Single Adults | 5,277 | 4,559 | 3,777 | 3,914 | 3,645 | 2,604 | 855 | 1,499 | 1,971 | 2,181 | 2,419 | 2,603 | 35,304 | |
| Accompanied Minor Child** | 102 | 53 | 61 | 33 | 38 | 40 | 18 | 30 | 56 | 68 | 101 | 87 | 687 | |
| Southwest Border Total Inadmissibles | 9,737 | 9,119 | 7,712 | 7,380 | 6,610 | 4,071 | 924 | 1,644 | 2,213 | 2,393 | 2,731 | 2,903 | 57,437 |
*Family Unit represents the number of individuals (either a child under 18 years old, parent, or legal guardian) deemed inadmissible with a family member by the Office of Field Operations.
**Accompanied Minor Child represents a child accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and the parent or legal guardian is either a U.S. Citizen, Lawful
Those who are apprehended between Ports of Entry and claim credible fear are processed for expedited removal by U.S. Border Patrol. Those who arrive at Ports of Entry, are found inadmissible, and claim credible fear are processed for expedited removal by the Office of Field Operations. All claims of credible fear are referred to Asylum Officers of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Under the Expedited Removal Provisions, an agent or officer takes the applicant’s sworn statement, including asking four questions regarding any fear the alien may have of returning to his or her home country and the potential of being harmed. During Expedited Removal proceedings, detainees are questioned regarding any fear they may have of returning to their country of origin, to ensure that each detainee is afforded the ability to articulate claims of fear. Those questions are:
Why did you leave your home or country of last residence?
Do you have any fear or concern about being returned to your home country or being removed from the United States?
Would you be harmed if you are returned to your home country or country of last residence?
Do you have any questions or is there anything else you would like to add?
CBP Agents and Officers have no discretion as to whether or not to refer an alien for a credible fear interview. CBP Agents and Officers do not make any determination on the validity of such claims and refer the person for an interview with a USCIS Asylum Officer.
[…] week, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported a 944% increase in border apprehensions and encounters over the same month in […]