Recently, US border patrol officers arrested a Chinese woman who attempted to illegally enter the United States from Canada. The woman was found crossing a railroad bridge that connects Ontario, Canada, to Buffalo, New York on foot, an apparent case of smuggling.
According to a press release from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Monday, the incident took place on May 25 when officers patrolling the area spotted the woman crossing the international railroad bridge.
Upon entering the US, the woman got into a car waiting for her, driven by a man. Border patrol agents and CBP officials immediately arrested both individuals.
CBP confirmed that the woman was from China and was charged with illegal entry into the United States before being deported back to Canada. The male driver has also been arrested and will face charges, although the specific allegations have not been disclosed.
As the number of illegal border crossings from the southern US border continues to rise, there has been an increase in individuals attempting to enter the US from the northern border as well. According to CBP statistics, the number of illegal entries from the northern border has surged from 27,180 cases in 2021 to 189,402 cases in 2023. While this is significantly lower than the over 2.4 million illegal immigrants who entered the US from the southern border in 2023, the increase is substantial.
The number of Chinese citizens illegally entering the US from Mexico has also seen a sharp increase. In 2023, US border officials apprehended over 37,000 Chinese citizens at the southern border, a tenfold increase compared to previous years. Following a meeting between leaders of China and the US in California at the end of last year, it was reported that cooperation on repatriating Chinese immigrants illegally staying in the US has quietly resumed.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned in an April budget hearing in the US House of Representatives that he had made “contact” with Chinese officials to ensure the swift repatriation of Chinese citizens illegally staying in the US back to their home country.