More illegal immigrants attempted to cross the U.S. border in 2014 than did the previous year, but the number of deportations dropped 5 percent from 2013, according to a new report released by the Department of Homeland Security.
Border apprehensions rose 16 percent in 2014 and for the first time were -- at the Southwest border -- comprised of more people from Central America than from Mexico.
The number of deportations dropped to 414,481, 5 percent less than the approximately 438,000 deported in 2013, while the number of long-time illegal immigrants deported from within the country's interior fell 24 percent, according to The Washington Times.
Covering from Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014, the numbers are from before President Barack Obama announced his immigrant amnesty on Nov. 20, which could lower deportations even more.
The drop in deportations was blamed on shifting resources and an influx of Central American family units and unaccompanied children crossing into the states.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), mostly responsible for apprehending illegal immigrants living inside the U.S., reassigned 200 agents to deal with the increase in border-crossings, resulting in a lower number of interior deportations, the report said.
Changing migrant demographics also impacted removal efforts, as people coming from Central American countries take more time and money to deport.
Border Patrol is able to hand Mexicans directly over to officials at the border, but illegal aliens from Central American countries must be housed, processed and sent home on a plane.
Homeland Security said other contributing factors were an increase in state and local jurisdictions declining to cooperate with ICE -- more than 275 jurisdictions nationwide -- and a decision to "refine focus on convicted criminals," which takes more time, officers and money.
"As a result, while overall removals may have declined, ICE has improved the quality of its removals by focusing on the most serious publicly safety and national security threats," the report said.
