DHS: 203 percent increase in illegal border crossings for March

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement Thursday addressing the increase in illegal border crossings for March compared to last year.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 37 percent overall increase for the month of March compared to February. Officials said there was 203 percent in March compared to March of 2017.

“The crisis at our Southwest border is real. The number of illegal border crossings during the month of March shows an urgent need to address the ongoing situation at the border. We saw a 203 percent increase from March 2017 compared to March 2018 and a 37 percent increase from last month to this month – the largest increase from month to month since 2011. Illegal aliens continue to exploit our immigration laws. We need to close these dangerous loopholes that are being taken advantage of each and every day, gain operational control of the border, and fully fund the border wall system. As the President has repeatedly said, all options are on the table,” Department of Homeland Security’s press secretary Tyler Q. Houlton said.