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Migrant families arrests in US rose 38 pct in August

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (KUNA) -- The number of migrant families arrested along the US' southern border increased by 38 percent, 3,500 more than July and the highest amount recorded for the month of August, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
"Smugglers and traffickers understand our broken immigration laws better than most and know that if a family unit illegally enters the US they are likely to be released into the interior," said DHS Press Secretary Tyler Houlton in a statement.
"Specifically, DHS is required to release families entering the country illegally within 20 days of apprehension." Houlton said that those who are released "fail to ever depart" the US. Through the third quarter of 2018 only 1.4 percent of family units return to their home country.
"Secretary Nielsen and this Administration are committed to using all resources available to gain operational control of the US border, to uphold our nation's immigration laws as passed by Congress, and to work with Congress to fix this broken system," said Houlton. (end) ak.ibi