The northern border shares something in common with the southern border of the United States - it is understaffed and Border Patrol agents are stretched thin. Despite a lack of proper support, agents at the northern border continue to apprehend a record number of illegal border crossers. 

In the busiest northern border sector of Swanton, Border Patrol agents made history by apprehending the greatest number of illegal border crossers in sector history of 1,109 in March, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. While the numbers are significantly lower than those apprehended at the southwest border, they are out of the ordinary for the northern border and its busiest sector. By comparison, agents apprehended 37 illegal border crossers in March 2021.

Those they apprehended in March 2024 came from 40 countries. The top three nationalities of those apprehended were India (408), Bangladesh (323), and Mexico (170), Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia said.

For example, from April 28 to May 4, one week, Border Patrol agents apprehended 492 illegal aliens. That was more than the total apprehensions for all of 2021. In 2021, the total number for the entire fiscal year was 365. 

Chief Patrol Agent Garcia said that during the week before that, Champlain Border Patrol agents apprehended 220 illegals. It was “the highest number ever encountered in a single week in Swanton Sector history.” 

You'd think that shattering those two records would at least bring about some acknowledgment that the northern border of the United States needs attention. President Biden is in favor of open borders or else we would have real border security.  Biden has no cred as he now tinkers around the edges of immigration policy and border security policy because it is an election year. The Biden administration is set to pretend to do some reform to the asylum process. They may pretend to be interested in America's sovereignty but, no. It's all about Biden's re-election in November. 

Every decision Biden makes is through a political lens. It is as though he is running for re-election in the Senate, not president. He flips and flops on all issues, according to how the progressive winds are blowing. Scranton Joe acts more like Che Guevara, a full-on Marxist. Biden appeases open-border progressives. 

The open southern border is a humanitarian and national security crisis. Biden's neglect is turning the northern border into the same. Swanton Sector Border Patrol agents are breaking records every month. They are doubling and tripling apprehensions each month, compared to apprehensions in the same month in FY 2023. The CBP fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. 

The Swanton Sector spans 295 miles of international boundary with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, of which 203 miles is on land. The remaining 92 miles of border fall primarily along the St. Lawrence River. The sector is the first international land boundary east of the Great Lakes.

The sector includes all of Vermont, six upstate New York counties and three New Hampshire counties.

There are many apprehensions of those with names on the terror watch list.

The number of known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) apprehended at the northern border in the first six months of fiscal 2024 continue to outpace those apprehended at the southwest border.

There have been 143 KSTs apprehended at the northern border through the first six months of this fiscal year compared to 92 at the southwest border, according to the most recent CBP data.

Those apprehended are known to law enforcement and in the national Terrorist Screening Dataset, a federal database that contains sensitive information on terrorist identities. It originated as a consolidated terrorist watchlist “to house information on known or suspected terrorists but evolved over the last decade to include additional individuals who represent a potential threat to the United States, including known affiliates of watchlisted individuals,” CBP explains.

It's a matter of when, not if, before the Biden border crisis produces something truly horrific in our country. The administration and Congress have been warned by the FBI and other intelligence agencies about red flags and possible imminent danger. Is anyone paying attention? The Biden administration has a history of being caught flat-footed. They play defense, not offense. 

Open borders are national security threats. Both our southern and northern borders are open. We live in a dangerous time. Let's hope we get a new president soon and the borders are secured as much as possible again.