Educated on a legal loophole that lets migrant “families” with kids enter the United States, the Homeland Security Department reported Tuesday that men showing up with kids at the border has spiked 110 percent in just the last two years.

The department noted that children could be used by smugglers and drug traffickers to enter the country.

Families are also using fraud to game the immigration system. The department said that 170 families have been caught lying about their relationships to enter the U.S.

“This data does not show nor does DHS assert that all minors apprehended as part of a family unit are illegitimate, but it does indicate that there is a significant problem that provides DHS the needed authority to protect the best interests and welfare of all children,” said the department.

The statement was aimed at news reporting that has suggested the Trump administration is tear gassing and rejecting families.

Spokeswoman Katie Waldman said:



In response to the misreporting from multiple outlets, I wanted to highlight the rampant fraud taking place at our Southern border. Aliens know that if they bring ANY minor with them they will be apprehended by Border Patrol and released into the interior of the United States. This is a direct result of the Clinton-era Flores Settlement decree that has created a massive loophole which allows alien family units to illegally cross the border and enter the United States after a short detention. This well-known loophole acts a magnet for family units and entices smugglers to use children as a way to gain access to the United States by posing a family unit. Word has gotten out. Over the last two years, we have seen a 110 percent increase in male adults showing up at the border with minors. Further from April 19, 2018 to September 30, 2018, 507 aliens were encountered as a family unit and were separated as they were not a legitimate family unit.



She also supplied some numbers to back up the fraud charges:



87 family units separated based on child determined to be over 18.

165 adults and 6 individuals that had initially claimed to be minors but were later discovered to be adults.

170 family units separated based on no family relation.