BORDER/DHS/IMMIGRATION/MEXICO/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said Friday [6-28-19] that it appears there will be a 25% decrease in June in numbers of migrants crossing at the US-Mexico border. More than 144,000 migrants had been encountered or arrested at the US-Mexico border in May, the highest monthly total in 13 years. McAleenan credited Trump administration initiatives, especially the increase in interdictions by Mexico over the past three weeks and the return of some asylum seekers to Mexico for the duration of their immigration proceeds, a program McAleenan says is being expanded. That program, however, is being fought in court, including by a union representing asylum officers which opposes the initiative. A dip in border crossings is common during the hot summer months, though McAleenan downplayed the role of seasonal trends in migration, saying that he expects to be able to tell by late July if these initiatives will have a sustained impact. Over recent months, there’s been a dramatic spike in apprehensions at the southern border, particularly of families and unaccompanied minors — overwhelming the administration and prompting a request for emergency funding to the border.”
–Priscilla Alvarez, “Administration forecasts 25% decrease in migrant apprehensions at US-Mexico border in June,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, June 28, 2019 4:54 pm