The Department of Homeland Security reported Friday that border officials apprehended 2,529 unaccompanied immigration children in October, the first month of fiscal year 2015.
That's a 40 pct drop from October 2013, and a possible sign that the flood of child immigrants may be slowing down.
At it's peak last spring and early summer, as many as 10,000 children were coming across the border. But the summer heat, combined with stepped up efforts to clarify that no amnesty would be given to people trying to enter the United States, seems to have reduced the inflow.
Republicans have said the Obama administration's effort to give millions of illegal immigrants legal status and the ability to work was another factor driving illegal immigrants to the country.
President Barack Obama has said since the midterm elections that he would make some move on immigration before the end of the year. That has had Republicans scrambling to figure out how to stop him, possibly by including language in a government spending bill to prevent any executive steps.
"We're going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path," House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday.
