WASHINGTON—The number of illegal immigrants crossing into the United States from Mexico declined by 40% from January to February, according to a report in Reuters.
The downturn in immigrants has ramifications for credit unions in several ways. As CUToday.info has reported, CUs that serve the Hispanic Community are concerned about how the policies of the Trump Administration may impact the Latino communities they serve.
In addition, as CUToday.info also reported, the change in immigration flows and the crackdown on illegal immigration will affect remittances in several ways, as well.
The downturn—reported by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly—came after President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20 vowing to deport many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, Reuters reported.
The flow of illegal border crossings as measured by apprehensions and the prevention of inadmissible persons at the southern border dropped to 18,762 persons in February from 31,578 in January, Kelly said in a statement.
He said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, which compiled the data, historically sees a 10% to 20% increase in apprehensions of illegal immigrants from January to February.
“Since the administration’s implementation of Executive Orders to enforce immigration laws, apprehensions and inadmissible activity is trending toward the lowest monthly total in at least the last five years,” Kelly said.