The Nation : Seizures by INS a Record

For the third year in a row, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a record number of aliens trying to enter the United States illegally, and more of them were women, children and non-Mexicans than in any previous year, the Immigration and Naturalization Service said. The continued drawing power of the U.S. economy, coupled with the assignment of 519 new agents, largely accounted for the 11% increase to 1,265,054 apprehensions in fiscal 1985, which ended Sept. 30, INS Commissioner Alan C. Nelson said. A larger number of family groups were detected at the borders, including 174,000 women and children, 14% more than a year earlier. In addition, the apprehensions included 40,500 non-Mexicans, a 13% increase.