Immigration security

U.S. Homeland Security Chief Calls For More Migrant Detention Sites Following Immigration Surge

A marked increase in apprehensions of undocumented immigrants along the southwest border with Mexico during October has prompted Homeland Security officials to call for additional detention space for detained migrants, the chief of the agency said Friday.

In October, a total of 46,195 individuals were apprehended between ports of entry along the southwest border — a jump from 39,501 in September and 37,048 in August, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said in a press release. Among those totals are increases in the numbers of unaccompanied children and families, as well as people presenting themselves at border points of entry seeking asylum, Johnson said.