Surge Children and Families Illegally Crossing Us Border

Washington — Border agents saw a sharp rise in families and children trying to slip across the southwest border in the weeks leading up to February 2016. Customs and Border Protection numbers showed family units and unaccompanied minors making up a bigger share of crossings than they had in months, with most coming through the Rio Grande Valley sector in Texas.

The increase caught many by surprise after a quieter stretch late last year. Officials pointed to rumors spreading through Central American villages that the U.S. might ease its rules again, along with worsening conditions back home in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Smugglers appeared quick to take advantage, charging higher fees for the riskier routes.

Local shelters in South Texas filled up fast, forcing some towns to open temporary holding areas. Agents described scenes of exhausted parents traveling with toddlers and teenagers who had walked for days. Processing took longer than usual, and agents said they worried about keeping track of everyone once releases into the interior began.

The numbers raised familiar questions inside the Obama administration about whether current policies were enough to slow the flow. Some lawmakers called for more detention space and faster deportations, while others argued the root causes lay in poverty and violence south of the border. Either way, the pattern looked a lot like the surges of 2014.

Agents on the ground said the situation felt familiar but no less frustrating. They kept finding groups hiding in brush or wading across shallow stretches of river, often at night. The work continued without much sign of letting up.