Over the weekend, Swanton Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended several groups of illegal foreign nationals trudging through knee-deep snow as they attempted to illegally enter the U.S. from Canada. In one weekend alone, agents caught 94 people from 11 countries.
The Republican National Committee (RNC), Vermont Republican Party (VTGOP), and two concerned Vermont residents filed suit in Vermont Superior Court against the City of Winooski for allowing noncitizens to vote in its school board and budget elections.
Northern border residents in parts of New York and Vermont say they’re “overwhelmed” by the surge in illegal migrants moving south into their communities as they’re disrupting the locals’ daily lives, depleting already limited resources and causing damage in the area.
The sector saw approximately 100 known gotaways in the entirety of fiscal year 2022, but has seen roughly 900% more gotaways already between October 2022 and February 2023, Walsh, whose region covers parts of New York and Vermont.
The U.S.-Canadian border’s Swanton sector, which covers parts of New York and Vermont, has recently seen a nearly 900% increase in migrant encounters.
So far in fiscal year 2023, some 55,736 migrants have been encountered at the northern border, nearly as many as were encountered in 2020 and 2021 combined. If the trend continues, the northern border will experience a record number of encounters this year.
“Our Border Patrol Agents apprehended 367 subjects in January — more than 12 preceding years of January totals combined” totaling 344, Swanton Sector Chief Agent Robert Garcia said.
Between October and January, Border Patrol agents in the Swanton sector of the Vermont-Canadian border saw a roughly 846% increase in migrant encounters and arrests, according to CBP.
The Swanton Sector leads the northern border in illicit border crossings, whose agents continue to see a record number of foreign nationals illegally entering upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire after flying to Canada from at least 19 countries.
On March 7, 2023, voters in Burlington, Vermont, will decide on at least seven ballot measures — five of which were placed on the ballot by the Burlington City Council, and two which were placed on the ballot by citizen initiative.
Workforce development, enrollment into English language courses, and driver’s license procurement has eaten away at $500,000 in Vermont’s budget earmarked “aid to refugees.”
“In less than three months, Swanton Sector Border Patrol agents have encountered more illegal border crossers than the entire previous fiscal year,” Garcia said. “Our agents are committed to their mission — protecting our homeland.”