A recently released report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed that more than 400 unaccompanied minors crossed Texas’ southern border in one day.
The document shows that 495 unattended children were apprehended and placed into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody on September 12.
However, DHS said, “This number does not include children from Mexico, most of whom will be repatriated and will not remain in CBP custody.”
DHS also reported that while 433 children were transferred out of CBP’s care that day, more than 850 children remained in their custody.
The report stated that 10,649 unaccompanied children were in the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, while only 316 were discharged from the agency’s authority.
According to News Nation, the data from September shows a record number of unaccompanied children apprehended along the southern border since December 11, 2022, when more than 560 unattended minors crossed into Texas.
News Nation Correspondent Ali Bradley also reported that the federal government is keeping the children in 296 facilities nationwide.
As the number of unaccompanied children crossing the southern border continues to rise, the federal government is struggling to keep up.
Last year, almost 130,000 unattended children entered the U.S., surpassing the previous record of 122,000 in 2021—which led to “severe” overcrowding in HHS facilities.
The Biden administration recently reopened a care facility in Pecos, Texas, to provide extra support for an overwhelmed HHS.
According to a report from CBS News, HHS reopened the site—equipped to hold 500 teenagers—due to a pressing need for bed space after their other facilities reached almost maximum capacity.
HHS also told CBS News they are opening another facility in Greensboro, North Carolina, to serve as an influx care facility.
“While (the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s) priority is to place children into standard care provider facilities, access to (Influx Care Facility) capacity remains necessary to ensure that ORR can promptly accept referrals when ORR’s other network facilities reach or approach capacity,” the agency said. “With this in mind, the status of the ICF at Pecos has changed from ‘warm status’ to active status and is currently accepting children.”
Border Crisis
According to recent numbers released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 183,503 illegal aliens were encountered at the border in July. The number of encounters has risen by almost 40,000 from June, which saw 144,566 encounters.
Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott installed buoy barriers to take action where the Biden administration has lagged and “deter illegal border crossings between ports of entry.” The buoys have led to lawsuits by a local business owner and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Although a federal judge originally ordered Texas to move the barriers, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked their removal.
