VT agents say U.S. border crisis is improving

A Significant Drop in Illegal Border Crossings

U.S. Border Patrol agents in the northeast have reported a dramatic decrease in illegal border crossings this year compared to the previous one. This change has been attributed to new policies implemented by the Trump Administration, which have significantly altered how border enforcement is conducted. According to data from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector, agents apprehended 119 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally in June. This marks a 96% drop from June 2024, when over 3,310 people were stopped—a record high for the sector.

The reduction in crossings has led to a sense of normalcy among agents, though some still believe that even 100 attempts per month is above historical averages. Agent Josh Cozzens, the Special Operations Supervisor for the Swanton Sector, acknowledged the decline but emphasized that border activity remains high. “We’re glad that the apprehension levels have significantly been reduced, but we still have a lot of cross-border activity going on,” he said.

New Policies and Procedures

Cozzens noted that the shift in policy has changed how agents approach their work. He explained that the stricter rules introduced earlier this year have coincided with the drop in illegal crossings, although they are not yet solving the issue entirely. “Once policies changed this year, messaging changed, as well as our procedures changed,” he said.

The changes include more severe consequences for immigration violations. Agents now detain everyone they encounter who has broken immigration laws and seek criminal prosecution where possible. “We’re applying more significant consequences with immigration violations,” Cozzens said. “We are also seeking to remove the folks back to their home countries as quickly as we can.”

This approach aims to deter others from attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. However, Cozzens stressed that the agents do not create or interpret federal law—they only enforce it.

Focus on Smuggling and Community Impact

The decrease in illegal crossings has allowed agents to refocus their efforts on other aspects of their job, such as targeting smuggling activities. “We’re also able to focus and target significant smuggling activity that maybe we weren’t able to before because we were so inundated with apprehensions,” Cozzens said.

He recalled that during peak times, agents were apprehending over 100 people per day. Now, they have more capacity to address other threats. Additionally, residents in border communities in Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire have noticed the difference. “There is a lot of relief out there, because people were seeing people illegally enter their personal property, their private lands, on a regular basis,” Cozzens said.

National Security Concerns Remain

Despite the improvements, Cozzens emphasized that the individuals being detained still pose serious risks. “One person was wanted for first-degree murder, another person was wanted for second-degree murder,” he said. “We had another person apprehended north of the border in Canada who’s been charged with wanting to commit a terrorist act in New York City.”

These cases highlight the ongoing national security concerns associated with illegal border crossings. “You never know who’s crossing until we encounter them,” Cozzens added. “We don’t know why they’re coming, we don’t know who they are, what they’re bringing with them, and those are the things that we’re mostly concerned about.”

Recruitment Efforts and Public Reporting

With the current staffing needs, the Swanton Sector is actively recruiting new agents. The agency offers a $20,000 signing bonus to attract qualified candidates. Anyone who observes suspicious border activity is encouraged to report it to the authorities.

For further information or to make a report, the U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector can be contacted at 1-800-689-3362.