Border Patrol agents at the northern border are facing the challenge of apprehending a record number of illegal border crossers, even though they are already stretched thin and understaffed.
In March, the Border Patrol agents in Swanton’s busiest northern border sector achieved a historic milestone by apprehending a record-breaking number of 1,109 illegal border crossers, as per the data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Although these figures are notably lower than the apprehensions at the southwest border, they are extraordinary for the northern border and its busiest sector. To put this into perspective, only 37 illegal border crossers were apprehended in March 2021.
In March 2024, individuals apprehended by the authorities hailed from a total of 40 different countries. According to Robert Garcia, the Chief Patrol Agent of the Swanton Sector, the top three nationalities among those apprehended were India with 408 individuals, Bangladesh with 323 individuals, and Mexico with 170 individuals.
According to Garcia, a total of 492 individuals who illegally crossed the border were apprehended by agents in just one week, specifically from April 28 to May 4. This number exceeds the total apprehensions made throughout the entire fiscal year of 2021, which amounted to 365 individuals.
Last week, Champlain Border Patrol agents successfully apprehended 220 individuals who had crossed the border illegally. According to Garcia, this is the highest number of apprehensions ever recorded in a single week in the history of Swanton Sector.
Swanton Sector Border Patrol agents are consistently setting new records each month, apprehending a notably higher number of individuals compared to previous years. It is worth noting that the CBP fiscal year spans from October 1 to September 30.
In October 2023, the number of illegal border crossers apprehended by Swanton Sector agents increased to 1,075, compared to 334 in October 2022, 43 in October 2021, and 25 in October 2020.
The Swanton Sector covers 295 miles of the international boundary between the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, with 203 miles on land and the remaining 92 miles along the St. Lawrence River. It is the initial international land boundary to the east of the Great Lakes.
The sector encompasses a wide area, including all of Vermont, six counties in upstate New York, and three counties in New Hampshire.
In fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol agents in the Swanton Sector achieved a new milestone by apprehending over 6,700 foreign nationals from 76 countries, marking the highest number of illegal border crossers in sector history. This exclusive report from The Center Square reveals that more than half of these individuals, totaling at least 3,745, managed to evade capture, earning the name “gotaways.” The data obtained by The Center Square highlights the significant challenges faced by agents in securing the border.
Garcia has always commended the strong bond between Border Patrol agents and local residents. According to him, the residents have played a crucial role in identifying suspicious activity, which has ultimately resulted in successful apprehensions.
Border Patrol agents along the northern border apprehended a record-breaking number of 91,408 illegal border crossers in the first six months of fiscal 2024. This marks the highest number of apprehensions in U.S. history for this time period, according to a report by The Center Square.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the number of apprehended illegal border crossers at the northern border reached a record high of over 60,600. This marks the highest number ever recorded during this time period in the history of the United States, as reported by The Center Square.
In fiscal 2021, there were 27,180 illegal crossers apprehended at the northern border. However, with the implementation of Biden administration policies, this number skyrocketed to 109,535 in fiscal 2022 and further surged to 189,402 in fiscal 2023. It is projected that the numbers for fiscal 2024 will exceed these figures.
The U.S.-Canada border stretches for an impressive 5,525 miles, making it the longest international border globally. In contrast to the U.S.-Mexico border, there are no physical barriers or walls separating the two countries. Unlike its southern counterpart, the northern border between the U.S. and Canada remains largely unmonitored and unpatrolled.
