Now the NORTHERN border sees historic surge in migrants crossing from Canada with January seeing more apprehensions than the last 12 years combined
- Illegal crossings at the northern border are surging despite sub-freezing temperatures
- A record-high of 367 apprehensions occurred in the Swanton, Vermont in January alone, which is higher than past dozen years
- Crossings comes despite harsh winter conditions with snow and temperatures plummeting to -4 degrees Fahrenheit
Border Patrol from the Swanton sector in Vermont reported Monday that it encountered a historic number of illegal crossers coming over the Canadian border into the U.S. last month.
Agents apprehended 367 people in January, mostly Mexican nationals, which they say is more than they encountered In January since 2011 combined. The average number of crossings in the Swanton Sector over the last 12 years is just 28.
Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia noted that agents are coming across at higher rates more family groups with young children and infants crossing the border.
He also warned migrants not to risk the trip through the cold as agents have had to conduct at least two rescue missions in January.
Illegal crossings at the northern border are surging – with a record-high of 367 apprehensions in the Swanton, Vermont in January alone, which is higher than past dozen years
Crossings from the north comes despite harsh winter conditions with snow and temperatures plummeting to -4 degrees Fahrenheit
‘Illegal crossings of the Canada/U.S. border in sub-freezing temps continued last week, as Border Patrol Agents apprehended 115 subjects from 12 countries—mostly Mexican nationals,’ he noted in a tweet with an image of migrants trudging through the snow.
‘Unfortunately, perilous weather has done nothing to deter this traffic. Don’t risk it!’
The surge comes as border crossings in the north continue to spike despite the frigid winter temperatures reaching -4 degrees – and as focus remains on the migration crisis at the southern border.
Swanton, according to a statement on the recent surge, has seen a seven-month streak of encounter increases.
From October 20221 to January 2023, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in the sector have seen an 846 percent increase in encounters and apprehensions compared to the same period last year.
‘As we progress deeper into winter and continue to address the ongoing pace of illicit cross-border traffic, the level of concern for the lives and welfare of our Border Patrol Agents and those we are encountering – particularly vulnerable populations – continues to climb,’ Chief Patrol Agent Garcia said.
‘It cannot be stressed enough: not only is it unlawful to circumvent legal means of entry into the United States, but it is extremely dangerous, particularly in adverse weather conditions, which our Swanton Sector has in incredible abundance,’ he added in a statement on the record-breaking number of crossings.
Security footage images released from the northern border earlier this month shows migrants trudging through several inches of snow while carrying their belongings after illegally crossings the border from Canada into the U.S.
Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia noted that at least two search-and-rescue missions were required for agents to administer aid to illegal crossers
The harsh winter conditions along the northern border have led to a need for increased search-and-rescue efforts and were required to provide life-saving aid in at least two incidents in Newport, Vermont and Burke, New York.
Surging at the northern border has appeared to coincide with the southern border spikes since President Joe Biden has taken office.
In fiscal year 2020, northern border encounters and apprehensions were at 32,376. The first full year Biden was in office in Fiscal Year 2022, the northern border saw a more than three times increase to 109,535 encounters.
So far this year from October 2022 to January 2023, CBP encountered 55,736 illegal crossers.
Along the entire U.S. northern border with Canada, the highest single month of crossings was in October 2022 when 15,883 people were apprehended by CBP.
The entire southern border saw a massive decrease in crossings from December 2022 to January 2023 – dropping from record high of 251,978 to nearly 100,000 less with 156,274 encounters.
