U.S. Border Patrol agents in Maine arrested a group of Chinese nationals who were attempting to illegally cross the border from Canada into the United States under cover of darkness.
A driver from New York who was suspected of attempting to transport and smuggle the individuals was also apprehended.
U.S. Border Patrol’s Houlton Sector said, “After noticing suspicious activity along the border, vigilant Fort Fairfield Border Patrol agents arrested three Chinese nationals attempting to use the cover of darkness to illegally enter the United States.”
Their statement continued, “A driver from New York, also a Chinese national who is already in immigration proceedings, was also arrested and suspected of attempting to further the illegal entry.”
The arrests come as illegal border crossings have increased significantly at the northern border in recent years, with over 12,200 migrants apprehended crossing from Canada in 2023 alone, a 241% increase from the previous year.
While most crossings still occur at legal ports of entry, the number of Chinese nationals attempting to enter the U.S. via the northern border has been rising sharply in recent fiscal years, surpassing 24,000 encounters in 2023.
Chinese nationals crossing into Maine from Canada is considered rare compared to crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border.
