BARELY HALF OF ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSERS CAUGHT

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Barely half of people who entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico last year were caught, according to a report commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security that also shows sharp declines in illegal entries.

The report found 54 percent of people who entered illegally between border crossings got caught in the 2015 fiscal year. That's much lower than the 81 percent success rate that Homeland Security cited publicly using a different counting method.

The 98-page report was completed in May, and Homeland Security has declined to release it. The Associated Press obtained a copy from a government official involved in border issues who acted on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public.

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