The Washington Examiner – by Kelly Cohen
Data released by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol shows arrests at the United States-Mexico border have been on a steady decline since the beginning of the year.
Roughly 14,500 people were apprehended on the southwest border in May, CBP data published on Thursday shows. Despite an uptick from April, when there were roughly 11,000 arrests, the numbers are still historically low.
Since January, total border arrests have been falling since hitting a record high of 66,700 in October under former President Barack Obama.
January — the month President Trump was inaugurated — saw 42,000 arrests. That number decreased in February to 23,500 and dropped again in March to 16,000. There were 11,000 arrests in April and 12,000 arrests in March.
In April, Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told a Senate committee that the decrease in apprehensions is “no accident.” Kelly cited border patrol “as well as the support of our leadership in the White House.”
CPB noted on Thursday that during the warmer months, there is a usual uptick in migration and arrests at the border.