Sixteen apprehended crossing illegally from Quebec to New York as border traffic rises

U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 16 individuals crossing illegally from Quebec into New York between November 23 and 26, 2024. The group included people from Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, and India, and was linked to human smuggling operations charging up to $5,500 per person. This surge in illegal crossings coincided with President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on Canadian goods unless Canada and Mexico addressed migrant flows. The number of illegal crossings from Canada has increased significantly, with over 21,000 apprehensions in 2024, compared to more than 56,000 from Mexico in October alone. Local authorities in New York's North Country are concerned about the rise in irregular border traffic, which has escalated from hundreds annually to over 6,000 in 2023. Canadian officials are promising new resources to combat human smuggling, but challenges remain due to the vastness of the border.