Sixteen apprehended for illegal crossing from Quebec to New York before Trump tariff threat

Sixteen individuals were apprehended for illegally crossing from Quebec into New York in recent days, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat against Canada. The crossings involved human smuggling operations, with migrants from Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, and India. U.S. Border Patrol reported a significant increase in illegal crossings from Canada, particularly in the Swanton Sector, which saw over 6,000 incidents in 2023. This area has become a focal point for smuggling activities, raising concerns among local authorities. In response to the surge, Canadian officials have promised additional resources to combat human smuggling. However, law enforcement faces challenges due to the complexity of cross-border cases and the vast geography of the Canada-U.S. border.