By the Numbers: Here's How the Crisis on the Border is Getting Even Worse

Katie Pavlich | June 13, 2019 9:40 AM

Earlier this week Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham held a hearing to go over legislation that will fix the ongoing crisis at the border.

During the hearing Graham revealed new numbers showing an explosion of fraud and abuse of the asylum system, which legislation he has introduced would end.

We’re eight months in to FY19. When compared to FY18 stats from the same time period:

??135% increase in TOTAL APPREHENSIONS. This includes:
??74% increase in UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
??463% increase in FAMILY UNITS

The numbers are overwhelming. pic.twitter.com/Lxjo7s13CC
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) June 11, 2019

Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan also testified, confirming that 90 percent of Central American migrants who are released into the United States do not show up for their scheduled asylum or immigration court hearings. Violent and dangerous criminal elements are also taking advantage.

“The reality is that we have an unprecedented humanitarian and security crisis on our border. 144,000 crossings last month. We had one day with 5,800 and then you see large groups like the group of 1,000. That group was made up entirely of people from Central America, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, 900 members of family units, 60 unaccompanied children and just a few single adults. That highlights the crisis right there,” McAleenan said.

“It’s not just families and kids. We also have 35% of those crossing trying that are trying to evade capture. Hidden with that group are single adults that might have a criminal record, either here in the U.S. or in their home countries. 17,000 last year, we’re seeing more this year,” he continued. "808 known gang members and more importantly, we have drug smugglers using the families and kids as a diversionary tactic to try to bring their poison across at the same time.”