Number of minors, families detained at Arizona-Mexico border declines

PHOENIX – The number of families and unaccompanied minors apprehended trying enter the U.S. at the Arizona-Mexico border fell by 22 percent over the last month, according to statistics released Thursday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In June, 4,146 family units and unaccompanied minors were apprehended by Tucson agents, and 1,917 by Yuma agents, for a total of 6,063. In May, those numbers were 4,760 in Tucson and 3,040 in Yuma, totaling 7,800.

Authorities said total arrests across the southern U.S. border fell 18 percent in June from a month earlier to the lowest levels since February.

There were about 42,600 arrests in June compared with nearly 52,000 in May. That’s still nearly double the number in June 2017.

It is unclear what drove the decline. Seasonal trends may be a big influence as scorching, potentially lethal heat deters crossers.

President Donald Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy, which resulted in separation of hundreds of families, may also be a driver.

The Border Patrol, which polices between ports of entry, made about 34,000 arrests. The rest occurred at official border crossings.

More than four of 10 Border Patrol arrests were of people who came as families or children traveling alone.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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