Of the over 210,000 Border Patrol apprehensions last year in South Texas, a vast majority of the immigrants caught attempting to enter illegally had made the trip more than once.

After reflecting on all they have, migrants recently deported to Nuevo Laredo, MX like a man we'll refer to as Alejandro think about the life they no longer have. He says he used to sell ice cream, household paint, and wash cars. He was working those odd jobs before he was deported four times. He adds, "Me agarraron cruzando dos vecez una viviendo en Los Angeles viviendo dos años. La otra fue en Phoenix, Arizona. Llegue, pero dese cuenta que estabamos en una casa y alli nos llego imigracion, nos agarraron a todos. Nadie pudo correr. Como, si nos tiraron el helicoptero." Translation: They caught me crossing twice. Once when I was living in Los Angeles for two years. The other time I was in Phoenix, Arizona. I was in a house, and that's where immigration arrived and caught everyone. No one could run. How could we? They sent a helicopter too.

The jobs he had don't pay much, but that depends on your perspective. He says, "Realmente el dinero en Honduras vale mucho. Tienes un dolar te viene ganando 23. Lo que ganas en un dia lo ganas en una semana en Honduras." Translation: Honestly, the money is worth a lot in Honduras. One dollar is worth 23 (over there). What you earn in one day in the U.S. takes you one week to earn in Honduras.

Alejandro is planning on crossing into the United States illegally once more. He's part of an undeterred group of immigrants who keep coming back and keep getting caught.

Within the past year -- FY 2016 - Jan 2017 -- the average is two times. But the record is much higher than that. Holding the is a 17 year old Guatemalan teen with a record 29 apprehensions. And despite Mexico having the most, it was those from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala who kept trying to come in after being sent back by Border Patrol up to 29 times.

There are efforts to curb and deter this, explains Congressman Henry Cuellar. "You can be detained up to six months. The second time, then you can be detained up to two years any subsequent time," he says.

Prosecutors say they are doing this in South Texas. But if they weren't, a memo issued April 11 from Attorney General Jeff Sessions is prompting everyone to enforce these law. They encourage prosecutors to consider felony prosecution for those with two or more prior misdemeanor improper entry convictions. Assistant U.S. Attorney-in-charge Jose Homero Ramirez says those types of prosecutions could result in fines of $250,000 and a sentence from 2 up to 20 years. But with thousands of apprehensions every year, prosecuting everyone with two or more illegal entries isn't feasible, believes Cuellar. "Especially people that live away from the border. All they want to do is make it a felony, add more border patrol. Everything is on the enforcement part, but they forget the judges, U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Attorneys, they forget everything else that comes in. It's not only the first step, you got to add the whole comprehensive system to make the system work well."

Prosecutors are focusing on smugglers and those with a criminal history. But, their focus is not all up to them. Cuellar says, "A lot of it depends on border patrol. Prosecutorial discretion. That's what it is. Prosecutorial discretion."

And what Border Patrol sees are a lot of repeat offenders like Alejandro. He says, "La necesidad te obliga a olvidar que es prohibido cruzar y que te van a dar un tiempo. Como que ignoras eso porque la necesidad to obliga a quitar ese miedo." Translation: The need forces you to forget that it's illegal to cross and that they could sentence you to serve time. You kind of ignore it because the need is forcing you to remove that fear. For others, the motivation is a lot stronger.

One mother apprehended by the Border Patrol in the Valley says she tried coming into the U.S. seeking help because her child can't speak. This sector saw the most activity recorded in the last year, but it's changing in 2017.

Congressman Cuellar says he does support the enforcement of the immigration laws for prosecution of repeat offenders. However, he says he's faced this uphill battle years ago when he spoke with prosecutors who explained that they didn't have the adequate resources to prosecute all those who have come in illegally more than once.