For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON – Today, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Press Secretary Tyler Q. Houlton released the following statement on U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) December Southwest Border Migration numbers:

“The final border apprehension numbers of 2017, specifically at the southern border, undeniably prove the effectiveness of President Trump’s commitment to securing our borders. This administration has overseen a 40 percent decrease in 2017 compared with the last year of Obama’s presidency. U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2017 were at the lowest level in 45 years. The significant increase over the last month in the number of family units and unaccompanied children coming across the border illegally highlights the dire need for Congress to immediately adopt responsible pro-American immigration reforms. Current loopholes in our immigration laws have created an incentive for illegal immigrants who knowingly exploit these same loopholes to take advantage of our generosity. The Secretary will require fixes to these loopholes as part of any immigration package negotiated today at the White House.”

CBP December Southwest Border Migration numbers are available here.

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