The number of people intercepted crossing illegally from Canada into the United States over the last year has more than doubled.
Between Oct. 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency intercepted 21,929 people compared to just 8,686 over the same 11-month period a year earlier.
According to data from CBP, border officials are intercepting more than one suspected terrorist per day trying to enter the U.S.A. from Canada.
The biggest concentration of people crossing illegally over the Canada-U.S. border happens in the northeastern part of the United States in a district known as Swanton. That district runs from the Quebec-New Hampshire border, across the Vermont-Quebec border and then over the top of New York State to where the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario meet.
“Border Patrol agents in Swanton Sector have apprehended more than 19,222 subjects from 97 different countries since Oct. 1, 2023, which is more than its last 17 fiscal years combined,” Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia said in a social media post earlier this week.
Garcia’s figures include yet-to-be-made-official numbers for September which show 1,412 additional people crossed through that district last month. That’s a decrease from a peak of 3,310 illegal crossings in June.
“Swanton Sector was extremely busy this past year and I’m proud of how our men and women rose to the challenge,” U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said in a statement. “Their dedication, and support they received, reduced encounters by more than 50% from June to September. There’s still more work to do, but their efforts thus far are extraordinary.”
While most of the concern and attention about illegal immigration into the United States is focused on the southern border with Mexico, increasingly the Canada-U.S. border is getting attention.
With more people crossing illegally over the last year than in the last 17 years combined, Americans are rightly concerned. There are active human smuggling and trafficking operations taking place, there are also concerns about terrorism and crime.
Back in July, a letter sent by several U.S. senators to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas noted that at that point in time 233 people had been apprehended trying to cross into the United States from Canada who were suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. Now, the website of Customs and Border Protection says there are 321 such individuals through the end of August.
That’s more than one suspected terrorist per day entering from Canada and as the senators noted at the time, Canada is bringing in thousands of people from Gaza, an area run by the terrorist group Hamas. There is very little security screening or vetting that can or will be done and the Americans are rightly worried.
The arrest of Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national living in Toronto on a student visa, won’t help allay concerns. Khan was arrested south of Montreal being driven to the area covered by Swanton where human smugglers are regularly taking people into the United States illegally.
According to documents filed in a New York court, Khan’s alleged plan was to travel to Brooklyn to carry out what he hoped would be the biggest terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11. He also, according to allegations in the court documents, was specifically looking to target the city’s Jewish community.
Thanks to the work of the FBI, the alleged plan was thwarted — but what about next time?
An additional concern for the Americans is how many foreign students admitted to Canada are now trying to cross into the United States to immediately claim asylum.
With Indian nationals representing 59% of the illegal crossings, this is clearly happening.
The Trudeau government has refused to properly clean up the mess they have made of Canada’s immigration system. With the Americans becoming increasingly frustrated with how this mess is affecting them, Washington may soon pressure Ottawa to finally act.