Central America Families Cross U.S. Border in Record Numbers
- Apprehensions by Border Control on southern U.S. border climb
- Family members crossing reach a record of 78,000 in 2016
Central American immigrant families walk through the countryside after crossing from Mexico into the United States to seek asylum on April 14, 2016 in Roma, Texas.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
A record number of Central American families fleeing violence crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in the most recent fiscal year and total apprehensions were up, according to figures released by the U.S. government.
While the exodus is smaller than two years ago, when an influx of unaccompanied Central American children stunned unprepared officials, the number of youngsters accompanied by relatives was the highest ever, the data released Monday showed.