The U.S. Border Patrol's Swanton sector in Vermont continues to maintain vigilance in its border patrolling duties. According to a recent social media post by Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, the months of October and November saw an increased level of activity compared to the combined total for the fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
Garcia stated, "In just the last two months (Oct. & Nov.), Swanton Sector Border Patrol Agents have apprehended 1,850 subjects from 43 different countries, surpassing the number of apprehensions in Fiscal Years (FY) 2021 & 2022 combined."
A news release from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated that agents had documented 367 migrant arrests during this time last year despite harsh weather conditions. This figure represented more arrests made in January than the total number recorded over the previous twelve years combined (344 in total). The surge in apprehensions can be traced back to the start of fiscal year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023).
Commenting on these developments, Garcia said, "As we progress deeper into winter and continue to address the ongoing pace of illicit cross-border traffic, the level of concern for the lives and welfare of our Border Patrol Agents and those we are encountering - particularly vulnerable populations - continues to climb." He further emphasized that it is not only unlawful but also extremely dangerous to circumvent legal means of entry into the United States, especially given adverse weather conditions prevalent in their sector.
Despite bone-chilling temperatures, migrants continue their attempts at illegal crossings from Canada into America as per CBP's news release. Agents in the Swanton sector frequently encounter families with young children including infants. In December of 2022 alone, Border Patrol agents conducted search-and-rescue missions that included incidents in Newport, Vt., and Burke, N.Y., demonstrating the agency's commitment to saving lives, even at the risk of their own agents.
