Thousands Of Migrant Children Stuck In US Border Patrol Custody: Report

On August 1, there were more than 2,200 unaccompanied children in US Customs and Border Protection custody, according to statistics provided by the government since March and compiled by Reuters.

The number of migrant children in Border Patrol facilities has been steadily rising, an analysis of US government data shows, as record numbers crossed the US-Mexico border in July, renewing a politically sensitive issue for President Joe Biden. On August 1, there were more than 2,200 unaccompanied children in US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, more than double the number just a month earlier, according to daily statistics provided by the government since March and compiled by Reuters. A CBP spokesperson said that number includes Mexican children who are quickly returned to their home country, as well as Central American children who are transferred to US federal shelters. The average time unaccompanied children are spending in CBP custody is around 60 hours, according to one source familiar with matter, which is just under a 72-hour limit set by a long-standing court settlement. However, as of Tuesday, there were 877 kids who had been held for over 72 hours, according to another source familiar with the data.