On Monday, the White House announced that the number of unaccompanied Central American children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has decreased this month.

According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, an average of about 150 children per day were caught at the Rio Grande Border during the first half of July, The Associated Press reports. In June, the daily average was 355 children.

Earnest said he is not positive about why the decrease occurred but thinks that the administration's "response and efforts to work with Central American leaders to publicize the dangers of the journey," as well warnings to potential migrants that they will be deported upon illegal immigration "have all played a part," according to The Hill.

President Barack Obama will speak with homeland security team members, such as Vice President Joe Biden and Cabinet secretaries, to work on the "whole-of-government response that the president has directed be put in place," Earnest said.

"Efforts to support deterrence, address the root causes of migration and build our capacity to provide the appropriate care for unaccompanied children and adults traveling with children [are] critical to managing the situation," the White House press secretary said in favor of Obama's $3.7 billion request to handle the border situation. "What we're focused on is making sure we have the necessary resources at the border."

On Friday, Obama is also scheduled to meet with Guatemala President Otto Pérez Molina, El Salvador President Salvador Sánchez Cerén and Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández, AP reports. The three countries are the homelands of many of the undocumented children crossing the border.

On Monday, Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he will send 1,000 Texas National Guard troops to the border.

"The people of Texas expect us, and I think people of this country expect us, to secure the border, and we will," Perry told KIMT, an Iowa TV station.

Earnest said this announcement could have been a tactic to create "headlines."

"[I hope the move is] coordinated and integrated with the ongoing response there," Earnest said.
---
Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

Related