Sen. Cruz: I Am Proud of the Excellent Work by the Men and Women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s [CBP] release of their apprehensions for the month of March. In the report, the CBP released astonishing apprehension statistics, which notably have not been reported as high since 2014: “In Fiscal Year 2019 to date, the U.S. Border Patrol has seen a more than 370% increase in the number of family units apprehended compared to the same time period in FY2018. Today, 60% of apprehensions along the Southwest border are family units and unaccompanied children, made up predominantly of individuals from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.”

“I am proud of the excellent work the hardworking men and women of our U.S. Customs and Border Protection do to protect our border, and to protect Texas’ communities,” Sen. Cruz said. “The people of Texas and Americans across our great nation know how important it is to secure our southern border, and that is exactly what the men and women of the CBP commit themselves to each day.

“The report released today by the CBP confirms concerns I have consistently raised: our broken immigration system at our southern border has produced a security and humanitarian crisis. Over half of the apprehensions the CBP has made at the border were young unaccompanied children. There is no denying that as a result of our broken immigration system and Congressional inaction, human traffickers, drug traffickers, and criminal cartels continue to see these children as opportunities to exploit our unsecured border.

“Furthermore, today’s report serves as a testament to the truth that Congressional Democrats can no longer deny: there is a crisis on our border, and it must be addressed immediately.” 

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