Canada

Sixteen caught crossing illegally into U.S. from Quebec in days before Trump tariff threat

In a recent incident on a late Saturday afternoon, just days before U.S. president-elect Donald Trump issued threats of tariffs on Canadian goods over migrants and fentanyl, the RCMP alerted U.S. Border Patrol about a group of individuals crossing illegally from Quebec into an area near Chateaugay, N.Y.

Border Patrol agents initially spotted the group, but lost them in the dense forests along the borderlands. Later, around 7 p.m. ET, they came across a white Acura with New Jersey plates parked on a dirt road near the border. The driver claimed to be looking for a hotel before driving away.

The group that had crossed from Canada remained at large as the day shift transitioned to the night shift, which took over the search. Then, in the early hours of Sunday, agents once again spotted the white Acura RDX, which led to a high-speed chase reaching speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour. The chase ended on a nearby highway where six passengers, including one individual hiding in the trunk, were apprehended. They admitted to crossing the border illegally from Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala.

Over the span of Thursday to Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol agents detained at least 16 foreign nationals who had crossed illegally into the U.S. through the Quebec border with New York State and Vermont in three separate incidents. Evidence outlined in U.S. court documents indicated that these incidents were the result of human smuggling operations, with smugglers charging between $3,000 to $5,500 per person to facilitate their entry into the U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump further escalated tensions by threatening a 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada unless more was done to curb illegal border crossings. This threat came after the RCMP confirmed that there was no evidence suggesting that fentanyl produced in Canada posed a growing threat to the U.S.

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While illegal border crossings from Canada into the U.S. represent only a fraction of those occurring along the southern border with Mexico, the Swanton Sector, encompassing the border between eastern Ontario-Quebec and states like New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, has seen a significant increase in irregular border traffic over the past two years. The region has become a hotspot for human smuggling operations, causing concern among local governments and residents.

Efforts to combat these illegal activities are hindered by the vast and rugged terrain along the 9,000-kilometer Canada-U.S. border, making constant surveillance a challenge. Law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border are working collaboratively to address these issues, but there is a need for updated legislative measures to effectively tackle human smuggling networks operating in the region.

As the situation continues to evolve, it is imperative for both countries to enhance cooperation and implement strategic measures to prevent further illegal border crossings and disrupt human smuggling operations along the Canada-U.S. border.

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