(CNN) US Customs and Border Protection encountered 171,700 migrants in March, including a record number of unaccompanied minors, far exceeding the prior month's totals and continuing an upward trend dating back to last year, according to preliminary data obtained by CNN. In March, CBP encountered 18,800 unaccompanied children at the border, according to the preliminary data, nearly doubling the number apprehensions of children in February and setting a record high. In May 2019, the highest month of arrests during that year's crisis, CBP arrested 11,861 unaccompanied children at the US southern border. Single adults still make up the majority of border apprehensions, with 99,300 encountered in March, the preliminary data reveals, up from 71,598 in February. In March, around 53,500 families were encountered by border officials, up from 19,246 in February.

Source: CNN April 02, 2021 15:22 UTC