[Free Beacon] U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended more than 70,000 people in February, the majority unaccompanied children or families, the agency announced Tuesday.This figure is the highest monthly total at any point in at least the past five years, lending credence to President Donald Trump's ongoing claim that America is experiencing a "crisis" at its southwestern border.
"We are currently facing a humanitarian and national security crisis along our southwest border. The vast increases in families and children coming across our border, in larger groups and in more remote areas, presents a unique challenge to our operations and facilities, and those of our partners, including the NGOS who work to assist these individuals and families throughout their immigration proceedings," said CBP Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan.
More than 36,000 "family units" (i.e., children and parent/guardians traveling together) were apprehended trying to cross the southwestern border between ports of entry; a further 4,000 were apprehended at points of entry. That total means that more family units attempted to cross the border illegally in February than at any point since the government began tracking the relevant data.