The flow of unauthorized immigrants
The number of unauthorized immigrants crossing into the United States has slowed in the past few years amid growing border defenses and a weakened U.S. economy. But a new crisis has emerged as unaccompanied children seeking asylum have shown up by the thousands.
WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM
The countries of Central America, particularly the northern triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, face rising levels of crime and drug violence as well as poverty and unemployment.
|Population (2013, in millions)||316.1||15.5||6.3||8.0|
|GDP per capita (Current U.S. dollars)||$52,800||$5,300||$7,500||$4,800|
|Population below poverty line (2013)||15.1%1||54.0%2||36.5%1||60.0%1|
|Crime victimization rate (2103)||NA||33.6%||28.5%||31.9%|
|Estimated homicide rate|
(per 100,000 people, 2012 estimate)
1: 2010 estimate, 2: 2011 estimate
WHERE THEY ARE CROSSING
Most of the unaccompanied children are coming through the Rio Grande sector in Texas, helping to make it the one region that saw a growth in apprehensions between 2004 and 2013. A border fence and tough laws in Arizona have helped stem the flow.
Southwest border sector unauthorized immigrants apprehended Fiscal year 2013, in thousands
BUDGET AND APPREHENSIONS
Generally, as the U.S. Border Patrol budget and staffing has risen, the number of apprehensions has declined. However, that doesn’t tell the full story as the decline also mirrors the changing U.S. economy since 2007.
U.S. Border Patrol agents
U.S. Border Patrol budget
Unauthorized immigrants apprehended
Unauthorized unaccompanied children apprehended
*Unprojected 2014 numbers are through June 15
Sources: World Bank data; CIA World Factbook; U.S. Border Patrol; U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Congressional Research Service