Biden Admin: Northern U.S. Border Sector Migrant Apprehensions at ‘Historic Highs’

Swanton Sector Border Patrol officials report that migrant apprehensions on this part of the U.S.-Canada Border this year hit “historic highs.” During the first four months of FY23, Swanton Sector agents experienced an 846 percent increase over the same period last year.

Despite temperatures falling to -4 Fahrenheit in parts of January, Swanton Sector agents apprehended 367 migrants who illegally crossed the Canadian border into the U.S. — The highest January in 12 years. This compares to only 24 migrant apprehensions in January 2022, according to the Nationwide Encounters report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“Despite sub-freezing temperatures, Swanton Sector continues encountering family groups with young children, including infants, illegally crossing from Canada into the U.S.,” CBP officials stated. “In December 2022, Border Patrol Agents led search-and-rescue efforts, providing life-saving aid in separate incidents occurring in Newport, VT, and Burke, NY. These incidents demonstrate BP Agents’ priority to preserve life, even at the risk of jeopardizing their own safety.”

Swanton Sector agents apprehended 1,513 migrants in Vermont, New Hampshire, and northeastern New York. This represents an increase of 846 percent over the same period in FY22 and exceeds the total apprehensions for FY22 and FY21 combined, officials stated.

The FY23 apprehensions include 1,260 single adults, 248 family units, and five unaccompanied minors.

“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,” said Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia. “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.”

Chief Garcia reports the surge of migrants crossing from Canada into his sector continue in February.

The surge became noticeable on the Nationwide Encounters report in March 2022 when agents apprehended 61 migrants. Since that time, the numbers increased in eight of the last nine months.