The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's latest report shows that 38,000 illegal aliens were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in April 2016, this is the highest number caught since the 2014 border surge.
The number of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) caught crossing the border increased to 5,129 while family units apprehended rose to 5,616. These levels are the highest since the 2014 border surge when levels of combined UACs and family units apprehended at the border reached over 27,000 in the month of June 2014.
The number of other illegal aliens crossing the border surpassed 27,000 for the first time in two months showing that the problems at the border are more than just children and families fleeing violence in their home countries.
According to Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot of Yuma County, AZ the crossing areas are spreading into western Texas and Arizona.
"They're coming across, they're turning themselves in, and basically a lot of it has to do with the fact they're obtaining the assistance with regards to when they're released," he said.
The President of the National Border Patrol Council, Brandon Judd, testified to Congress in April 2016 that border patrol agents were being told to release any illegal alien who claims to have been in the country since 2014, no proof of their claim is required.
Jessica Vaughan, policy studies director at the Center for Immigration Studies, says Pres. Obama's lax immigration policies are to blame for the increase of illegal border crossings.
"With the current catch-and-release policies still in place, and almost no enforcement happening, almost no one being sent home, there are still huge incentives for people in Central America to do whatever they can to get here, because they know they're going to be allowed to stay here for the foreseeable future," she said.
Read more on this story at The Washington Times.
