Statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicate that nearly half a million people were caught trying to enter the U.S. illegally this year. Of that number, 53% were not Mexican -- a number much higher than 2013. However, this statistic was reportedly only posted to the agency's website for a few hours before being taken down.
According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, the statistics were posted on October 10th for roughly five hours. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) fears that the statistics "may have been taken down for purely political reasons." He said, "If the information is ready, it should be made available. The idea that it was and then yanked down for political reasons is outrageous."
CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske said that the statistics were only taken down because the information was incomplete.
"This year, some of CBPs data was posted on the website prematurely and removed later that day. One of the statistics released was the number of Southwest border apprehensions by the Border Patrol, which was 479,371," said Kerlikoswske.
He continued that "incomplete statistics were taken off the website because it is important that the numbers released to the American people be presented in context and reflect the full range of CBP's border operations," and his agency will publish the full report "as soon as possible."
Read the report from the Center for Investigative Reporting
