Number of unaccompanied minors arriving at U.S. border eases in April, after record surge

The number of unaccompanied minors arriving at the southern U.S. border eased in April, after hitting a record high the previous month.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday that they encountered 17,171 children traveling alone, down 9% from 18,960 in March, according to the Associated Press.

Overall, border patrol encounters with illegal immigrants increased from March to April by 3% –  73,460 to 169,213.

The numbers of illegal immigrants detained at the border have risen for 12 straight months, according to The New York Times.

About 63% of those detained at the southern border were expelled from the country as a result of coronavirus restrictions. 

Single adults drove the overall increase in encounters between illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America and border patrol agents.