Are unusually high numbers of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the US border?

According to the Department of Homeland Security, “record numbers of individuals, including unaccompanied children,” have been arriving at the southwest border of the U.S. In February, Customs and Border Patrol reported just over 100,000 encounters at the border, 9,400 with unaccompanied children. These numbers represent increases of 28% and 61% from the previous month.

Border Patrol policy dictates that unaccompanied minors must be transferred to the custody of a Department of Health and Human Services agency within 72 hours so they can be “place[d] with a family member or sponsor until their immigration case is adjudicated.” However, nearly half of the minors currently in Border Patrol custody have been held for longer periods at facilities intended for adult migrants due to increased numbers, lack of beds and space and risks and restrictions posed by the pandemic.