We’re also establishing an in-country referral program in countries of origin including Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration to help address the Central American migration challenge. Earlier this year, the Government of Costa Rica announced its agreement to enter into a protection transfer arrangement with the U.N. This has included, and will continue to include, providing individuals with an opportunity to assert claims for asylum and other forms of humanitarian relief.Īt the same time, we are providing safe, alternative paths to our country for individuals in need of humanitarian protection. At the same time, we must enforce our immigration laws consistent with our enforcement priorities. We are determined to treat migrants in a humane manner. I have traveled to the southwest border 17 times over the last 34 months as Secretary and have seen this personally. Unaccompanied children and families have presented new challenges in our immigration system. In 2014, Central Americans apprehended on the southern border outnumbered Mexicans for the first time. Meanwhile, the demographics of illegal migration on our southern border has changed significantly over the last 15 years – far fewer Mexicans and single adults are attempting to cross the border without authorization, but more families and unaccompanied children are fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. Apprehensions are an indicator of total attempts to cross the border illegally. This represents an increase over FY15, but was lower than FY14 and FY13, and a fraction of the number of apprehensions routinely observed from the 1980s through 2008. In Fiscal Year 2016, total apprehensions by the Border Patrol on our southwest border, between ports of entry, numbered 408,870. STATEMENT BY SECRETARY JOHNSON ON SOUTHWEST BORDER SECURITY

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