A 19-year-old British national, Danny Gabriel Rooney, has been charged with unlawful entry into the United States. The charge was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. According to court documents, Rooney was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents after being observed walking southbound in Highgate, Vermont—an area known for illegal crossings from Canada.
Rooney appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 27, 2025, and was ordered detained while the case is pending. A review of law enforcement records showed that Rooney lacks legal status in the United States.
The United States Attorney’s Office stressed that the complaint consists only of allegations and that Rooney remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he could face up to six months in prison; however, sentencing would be determined by the District Court with input from advisory guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the investigatory work conducted by U.S. Border Patrol agents involved in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra is prosecuting the case, while Stephanie M. Greenlees represents Rooney as his defense attorney.
This incident falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at curbing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The operation integrates resources from various task forces including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
