Attempts to Illegally Cross US-Mexico Border Down in January

Illegal attempts to cross the southwestern border fell in January, the first decline in nine months, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The department reports that 35,822 people made illegal attempts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in January, down from 40,511 the month before. Last year, there were 42,463 attempts in January.

"This is typical of the migration patterns in the month of January," the report notes. "Based on historic data, migration patterns have shown a decrease in apprehensions and entry attempts in the month of January since [Fiscal Year] 2012."

"DHS front-line personnel are required to release tens of thousands of unaccompanied alien children and illegal family units into the United States each year due to current loopholes in our immigration laws. Once again, this month we saw an unacceptable number of UACs and family units flood our border because of these catch and release loopholes," DHS Acting Press Secretary Tyler Houlton said in a statement.

"To secure our borders and make America safer, Congress must act to close these legal loopholes that have created incentives for illegal immigrants and are being exploited by dangerous transnational criminal organizations like MS-13," he continued. "The administration will continue to work with Congress to pass its responsible, fair and pro-American immigration framework that provides funding for the border wall system, ends chain migration and the diversity visa lottery, and creates a permanent solution for DACA."

• FBI: No Evidence of Attack in Border Patrol Agent's Death
• Rep. McSally: Linebacker's Death Shows Border Policies Not Working