Family arrests at border rise; official cites legal ‘gap’

SAN DIEGO — U.S. authorities arrested dramatically more immigrant families at the Mexico border in August compared to previous months in a spike that a Trump administration official said Wednesday was the result of “legal loopholes” allowing children to avoid immediate deportation to their homelands in Central America.

The number of families arriving at the Mexico border reached 15,955, up from 12,274 in July, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Families accounted for more than one-third of people who were stopped at the border.

Commissioner Kevin Mcaleenan called the increase “a direct response to gaps in the legal framework,” adding, “We’re not surprised by it, but it’s been a very stark trend.”

Overall, people arrested or stopped at the border totaled 46,560, up from 39,953 in July and 30,567 in August 2017. Arrests have risen from July to August in four of the previous five years, indicating seasonal factors might be an influence.

Family arrests by the Border Patrol, a component of Customs and Border Protection that polices between ports of entry, soared to 12,774 in August from 9,281 in July. The increase in families arriving at official crossings climbed only slightly, to 3,181 from 3,027.

The administration said Tuesday that it will expand its tent shelter for immigrant minors crossing the border to 3,800 beds and keep it open through the end of this year. The facility at Tornillo, Texas, which originally opened with a 360-bed capacity for 30 days, is being expanded based on how many children are in the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.