Immigration is still a big issue and Texas lawmakers are trying to draw attention to the problems at the border. State Senator Dan Patrick is also the Republican nominee for Texas lieutenant governor.

During an appearance on a radio show in July, Patrick made a claim about the number of people apprehended crossing the border. The republican said:

    "Just two weeks ago, we apprehended almost 10,000 people crossing the border--in one week." Patrick continued, "If we apprehend eight or nine thousand a week, that’s more people than are born in Texas each week."

PolitiFact rated the claim for its truthfulness. PolitiFact writer Joshua Gillin said the claim rates TRUE. According to Gillin, the numbers back up the statement.

“Over the last year there were 480,000 or so apprehensions at the border,” Gillin said.

That border is defined as the area between Brownsville to San Diego. And there’s an important distinction between apprehension and the number of people crossing the border. An apprehension is an arrest for being in the United States without authorization. The number of people detained would be a smaller number, because some individuals are arrested more than once.

According to the Texas Department of State of Health Services, during that same time period, there were about 390,000 live births reported. Because the numbers match up, PolitiFact rated the claim TRUE.

SOURCES: BABIES BORN VS. BORDER APPREHENSIONS