Family units accounted for a majority of southwest border apprehensions in 2019 % of apprehensions at southwest border, by fiscal year and type
People traveling in families accounted for the majority of apprehensions in fiscal 2019, a big shift from the recent past. There were 473,682 apprehensions of “family units” (defined as the number of individuals traveling in a family), representing 56% of apprehensions overall and more than four times the next-highest annual total of family member apprehensions on record (107,212 in fiscal 2018). Apprehensions of unaccompanied children ages 17 and younger also reached their highest level on record (76,020 in fiscal 2019, compared with a previous high of 68,541 in fiscal 2014). In all other recent years, apprehensions of individual adults far outnumbered those of family members or unaccompanied children.
Family units accounted for a majority  | of southwest border apprehensions  | in 2019  | % of apprehensions at southwest border, by  | fiscal year and type  | 35 Single adults  | 61  | .60  | 66  | 71  | 76  | Unaccompanied  | 87  | children  | 13  | 14  | 56 Family units  | 15  | 14  | 12  | 27  | 25  | 19  | 14  | 12  | 2013  | 2015  | 2017  | 2019  | Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding  | Source: Figures U.S Customs and Border Protection.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 