Illegal border crossings down 28 percent according to Department of Homeland Security

PHOENIX — Through the first six months of the federal government’s fiscal year (beginning in October and ending in September), illegal border crossings into the United States have dropped 28 percent, this according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

The reduction in 2015, according to Johnson, is lower than the number of apprehensions at the six-month mark in 2013 and 2012. In fact, Johnson said border crossing busts are down in all subcategories across the board, including unaccompanied children, families and single adults.

“A large part of the reason for the decrease in what we are seeing on our southern border is because of the efforts of the government in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador,” said Johnson, who credited improved communications between the U.S. and the Central American countries as the driving force behind the reduction in apprehensions.

However, in spite of the encouraging numbers, Johnson isn’t ready to label the efforts at the border as a success.

“We are not declaring mission accomplished,” says Johnson.