WASHINGTON (AP) — For nearly three months this summer, the Obama administration carefully avoided answering questions about what happened to thousands of immigrant families caught illegally crossing the Mexican border.

Homeland Security Jeh (jay) Johnson and others would say only that they faced deportation.

It turns out that tens of thousands of those immigrants have not followed the government’s instructions to report back to immigration authorities and instead vanished into the interior of the country.

The Homeland Security Department privately acknowledged to immigration advocates that about 70 percent of families hadn’t reported as ordered. The disclosure came during a confidential meeting at its Washington headquarters for a federal working group on detention and enforcement policies.

The Associated Press obtained an audio recording of the meeting and separately interviewed participants.