The Justice Department set a record over the last year, prosecuting more criminal cases against illegal immigrants and migrant smugglers than any other year on record, officials announced Friday.
The numbers are still a tiny fraction of the overall illegal activity at the border. With nearly 1 million unauthorized crosses in fiscal year 2019, the government still only charged about 106,000 people with either illegal entry or illegal re-entry after a previous deportation.
Another 4,297 people were charged with migrant smuggling, harboring or otherwise assisting in the illegal traffic.
Most of those were drivers or foot guides, who help the illegal immigrants cross the border and get to their destinations inside the U.S.
Each category set a new record.
The previous high for smuggling cases came during the George W. Bush administration, while the highest numbers for illegal entry and re-entry came during the Obama administration.
“These record-breaking numbers are a testament to the dedication of our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the nation, especially our Southwest border offices,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen.
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