US Reports Steep Drop in Migrant Children Held by Border Patrol – By VOA News Staff (VOA News) / May 5 2021
Tens of thousands of migrants continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border weekly, but for the first time in months the number of unaccompanied minors held by the U.S. Border Patrol has dipped below 1,000, down from more than 5,000 a month ago, according to U.S. officials.
Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reported an 88% drop since March 28 in the number of migrant youths being kept at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities that for months have been strained beyond capacity.
The sharp decline constitutes the first concrete sign of progress in an early and thorny challenge for the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from lawmakers of both political parties amid a sharp rise in migrant arrivals at America’s southern border.
In a statement Mayorkas hailed what he termed “dramatic” results, adding, “We remain committed to this critical mission.”
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