(The Center Square) – Border Patrol agents working in the busiest northern border sector continue to apprehend record numbers of foreign nationals illegally entering the U.S. from Canada.
Swanton Sector Chief Robert Garcia said Border Patrol agents alone apprehended more than 5,400 illegal foreign nationals in just over 10 months – “eclipsing the previous 9 years combined.”
In July, Border Patrol agents apprehended 871 people, according to preliminary data The Center Square obtained from a Border Patrol agent on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. The data excludes Office of Field Operations data, which when officially announced makes the total higher.
Border Patrol agents also reported 37 people who turned back to Canada after crossing into the U.S. illegally, according to the preliminary data. They also reported 309 who they detected to have illegally entered the U.S. who evaded capture, officially referred to as “gotaways.” CBP does not publicly report gotaway data.
Agents have no idea who or where the gotaways are. Gotaway numbers are believed to be significantly higher because agents don’t report those they can’t detect. With fewer agents in the field and a vast territory to cover, an unknown number of people are illegally entering the U.S. undetected, authorities have explained to The Center Square.
The sector spans 295 miles of international boundary with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, of which 203 miles is on land. The remaining 92 miles of border fall primarily along the St. Lawrence River. The sector is the first international land boundary east of the Great Lakes.
The sector includes all of Vermont, six upstate New York counties and three New Hampshire counties.
Every month, Garcia reports on how previous monthly apprehension records were broken.
In January, he first reported that apprehensions in the first three months of fiscal 2023 surpassed the past two years combined.
In May, he reported that in the first seven months of fiscal 2023, Border Patrol agents apprehended and encountered more illegal foreign nationals than the previous four fiscal years (FYs 2019-2022) combined. At that point, those being apprehended were coming from at least 33 countries.
By July, Garcia reported apprehensions in June had totaled more than the past seven years combined. And by the first half of this year, more known, suspected terrorists were apprehended at the northern border than at southern border by a margin of 5-1. People being apprehended by this point were coming from at least 67 countries.
By August, he said apprehensions in just 10 months surpassed all apprehended over the past nine years combined.
This is as the number of known, suspected terrorists apprehended by OFO agents at ports of entry at the northern border continue to far outnumber those being apprehended at the southwest border. As of last month, 321 KSTs were apprehended at the northern border ports of entry compared to 61 apprehended at southwest border ports of entry.
Swanton Border Patrol agents “are tirelessly patrolling 295 miles of border,” Garcia said, adding that they are successful because of assistance they receive from local residents. He regularly thanks residents for working with agents and continues to encourage them to report suspicious activity. Doing so “helps ensure border security and community safety,” he says. Residents are encouraged to call 1-800-689-3362.
The sector is so busy that it’s also hiring for the first time in years. It’s hiring current U.S. military and veterans; a $10,000 hiring incentive is also being offered. Those interested can apply for open positions here and here.
Last week, construction also began on a new Border Patrol station being built in Champlain, New York, with an anticipated completion date of 2025.
This article First appeared in the center square