Illegal border crossings into U.S. surge at northern border

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – Law enforcement officials are sounding the alarm as recent data shows an unprecedented increase in the number of illegal border crossings along the northern border.

“We continue to urge anyone looking to enter the United States to do so legally,” said Raymond Bresnahan of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A plea from North Country law enforcement officials as an influx of migrants continues to enter the U.S. along the northern border.

Bresnahan is the lead patrol agent at the Champlain Border Station which is part of the Swanton sector, an area that covers 295 miles along the border. He says in 2023, border patrol agents apprehended roughly 7,000 people, a nearly 500% annual increase. A large number of people he says are looking for a better life.

“The vast majority of people we catch are still individuals looking for that American dream trying to get into the United States,” Bresnahan said.

However, he says the increase in illegal crossings makes it more difficult for law enforcement to find people who are actually crossing for nefarious reasons.

“There still are a lot of bad actors mixed in with them. We still see aggravated felons, we still catch a lot of bad people,” Bresnahan said.

The border patrol is trying to prevent illegal crossings with barricades. But despite numerous preventive crossing deterrents, Bresnahan says people are still undertaking an uncertain and arduous journey.

“They utilize their cellphones. They are trying to come through very thick terrain. The batteries begin to die on the phone. They panic. Luckily, we have a really great support system with all of our local partners so when we do get 911 calls, we have numerous fire departments, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office– they all come out to rescue these individuals,” he said.

In Clinton County, Sheriff Dave Favro says they are feeling the strain on resources, as well, due to the migrant influx. The county jail is one of the only facilities in New York that still accepts immigrant detainees. But Favro says the real challenge for law enforcement is when they are out on patrol.

“Given so much of the unknown that you are dealing with and all the turmoil and tension in the other countries that these people are coming from puts an awful lot of emotional strain and pressure on law enforcement and medical staff, including our 911 centers,” Favro said.

So why is there such an increase of border crossers over the last year? Phillip Kastiniz is the presidential professor of sociology and international migration studies at the CUNY Graduate Center in Plattsburgh. He says one reason for the increased number of crossings is the amount of attention the southern border is receiving.

“With the huge asylum-seeker concentrations and with all of those people crossing the border and with the huge increase in the amount of enforcement that is going on on the southern border, it is probably– if you have the option– a lot easier to try to get in without inspection across the Canadian border,” Kasinitz said.

People of Mexican origin are the largest demographic the Swanton border patrol encounters. Kasinitz says they are people who are more likely to have the resources available to travel to Canada legally first.

“Presumably some of them are entering legally on tourist visas, business visas and any kind of legal visa and then illegally crossing into the United States,” he said.

Favro, who recently testified before congressional lawmakers regarding the crisis at the border, says he believes lawmakers should reinstate the remain in Mexico policy if possible while people’s asylum cases are pending, but he does not go as far as to say that the border should be closed.

“Unfortunately, whatever Congress does, if they were to do a stop-drop measure right now, we are going to close the borders, we are going to take immediate action, it is not going to have a big impact on the borders for at least a year or year-and-a-half and that is very optimistic,” Favro said.

Bresnahan says they just need help.

“The number one thing border patrol needs is continued manpower and resources for our area,” he said.

On Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul will head to Washington, D.C., to advocate for a stronger border, work authorization permits for migrants downstate and immigration reform.