WASHINGTON, Dhu-AlHijjah 8, 1436, Sep 22, 2015, SPA -- The U.S. Border Patrol arrested nearly 10,000 unaccompanied immigrant children and families caught illegally crossing the border with Mexico in August, a 52 percent jump from August 2014, according to statistics published by the agency Monday afternoon, AP reported. Since the start of the fiscal year in October, border agents have arrested more than 35,000 children traveling alone and more than 34,500 people traveling as families, mostly mothers and children. The total number of arrests for the year is down nearly 50 percent compared with a year ago, but border agents have reported a jump in arrests since July. The Border Patrol reported arresting 6,424 unaccompanied immigrant children and families in August 2014, compared to 9,790 this year. The August increase comes a year after a surge of more than 68,000 unaccompanied children at the U.S.-Mexico border. -- SPA 03:49 LOCAL TIME 00:49 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w