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  4. Southwest Border Unaccompanied Alien Children Statistics FY 2015

Southwest Border Unaccompanied Alien Children Statistics FY 2015

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 2015 (October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015) compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2014.

Sector

Fiscal Year 2014

Fiscal Year 2015

% Change

Big Bend Sector

256

839228%

Del Rio Sector

3,2682,285-30%

El Centro Sector

6626681%

El Paso Sector

1,0291,66262%

Laredo Sector

3,8002,459-35%

Rio Grande Sector

49,95923,864-52%

San Diego Sector

954108414%

Tucson Sector

8,2626,019-27%

Yuma Sector

3511,090211%

Southwest Border Total

68,54139,970-42%

Southwest Border Family Unit Apprehensions*

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2015 (October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015) compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2014.

Sector

Fiscal Year 2014

Fiscal Year 2015

% Change

Big Bend Sector

176

807359%

Del Rio Sector

4,9502,141-57%

El Centro Sector

6306757%

El Paso Sector

5621,220117%

Laredo Sector

3,5911,372-62%

Rio Grande Sector

52,32627,409-48%

San Diego Sector

1,7231,550-10%

Tucson Sector

3,8122,930-23%

Yuma Sector

6751,734157%
Southwest Border Total68,44539,838-42%

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

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2015 (October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015)

Sector

FY2015

Rio Grande Valley

99,084

Southwest Border

145,316

Unaccompanied Alien Children Encountered by Fiscal Year

Fiscal Years 2009-2015

CountryFY  2009FY 2010FY 2011FY 2012FY 2013FY 2014FY 2015
El Salvador1,2211,9101,3943,3145,99016,4049,389
Guatemala1,1151,5171,5653,8358,06817,05713,589
Honduras9681,0179742,9976,74718,2445,409
Mexico16,11413,72411,76813,97417,24015,63411,012

Family Unit Apprehensions Encountered by Fiscal Year*

Fiscal Year 2015 (October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015)

CountryFY 2015
El Salvador10,872
Guatemala12,820
Honduras10,671
Mexico4,276

*Note: (Family Unit represents the number of individuals (either a child under 18 years old, parent or legal guardian) apprehended with a family member by the U.S. Border Patrol.) 

Last Modified: Oct 13, 2016