washington president donald trump first major battle war illegal immigration without build wall victory announce last week department homeland security dhs release figure show 93 percent drop since december parent children catch try cross mexico border illegally december 16,000 parent children apprehend march month immigration typically increase temperate weather number 1,100. remarkable decline steep 72 percent drop overall apprehensions eight dhs officials interview reuters surprise trump speak need crack broadly illegal immigrants internally accord dhs officials familiar department strategy administration focus one immigrant group others women children fast grow demographic illegal immigrants plan previously report months since trump inauguration dhs roll range policies aim discourage women attempt cross border include tough initial hurdle asylum claim threat prosecute parent hire smugglers get families across border department also float proposals separate women children border dhs secretary john kelly tell senate hear april sharp drop illegal immigration especially among women children due trump tough policies date threat new policies rather implementation suppress family migration mother children separate dhs shelve plan parent prosecute wall along border yet number migrants try cross especially women children drop drastically ask comment policy target women children dhs spokesman jonathan hoffman reference march drop say 15,000 women children put risk death assault smugglers make trip north white house decline comment refer reuters dhs months central americans hear trump get-tough policies public service announcements radio television present bleak picture await travel north ads fund unite state others unite nations agencies regional governments one radio ad honduras feature mother say year know alive dead anything curse day send north possibility mother children might separate border cause particular alarm honduran deputy foreign minister maria andrea matamoros tell reuters worry mother want go unite state kid separate drastically change plan say policies target women children root work group consist capitol hill staffers others call together trump transition team weeks nov. election group ask develop policies discourage illegal border cross quickly expel illegal immigrants cross border accord two dhs officials congressional aide one goal help trump fulfill major campaign promise end so-called catch release practice apprehend illegal immigrants free live unite state asylum deportation case resolve group quickly identify major obstacle large number women children continue cross border say dhs officials aide federal court rule bar prolong immigration detention juveniles obama administration generally release mother children live unite state await resolution asylum deportation case incoming trump administration view policy provide encouragement women make dangerous journey north children tow new administration bind court rule kelly confirmation homeland security chief late january several members original work group step key roles dhs gene hamilton work republican senator jeff sessions become senior counselor kelly dimple shah staff director house national security subcommittee become deputy general counsel kathy nuebel-kovarik formerly staffer republican senator chuck grassley become policy chief u.s. citizenship immigration service julie kirchner leave position executive director conservative federation american immigration reform become top policy adviser u.s. customs border protection none group members agree interview reuters several dhs officials say new roles continue focus issue women child migrants soon bare bone plan since court rule children obstacle prolong detention separate mother send children foster care protective federal custody mother remain detention center two dhs officials congressional aide say group also advocate two policies directly affect mother children raise bar asylum prosecute parent human traffickers hire human smugglers think implement tough policies eight weeks even threaten would see number families cross plummet say one dhs official familiar plan jan. 25 five days take office trump issue executive order end catch release u.s. immigration customs enforcement official say agency still release women children compliance federal court order week late town hall u.s. customs immigration service officer chief asylum officer john lafferty outline possibility separate women children semi-public set first time accord note meet see reuters month meet proposal leak reuters break news early march kelly confirm consideration democratic members congress blast proposal within days make headline across mexico central america month number children travel guardians apprehend border fell one-third february kelly advisers saw number drop announce shelve idea separate women children least ask whether may revive dhs spokeswoman jenny burke say families catch cross border illegally generally separate unless situation time require it separate mother children trump threat deter illegal migrants