The number of illegal aliens arrested in Maine last month was the highest in 24 years due to a significant increase in U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) activity across the state.
During the month of April, 113 illegals hailing from 16 countries were apprehended by USBP agents in Houlton Sector, which covers the entire state of Maine.
While illegal crossings at the Maine-Canada border have decreased under the Trump administration, interior enforcement is ramping up.
“This increase in apprehensions is not the result of more people illegally crossing the border in Maine, but instead from expanded United States Border Patrol enforcement throughout the state,” Customs and Border Protection (CBP) explained in a press release.
Interestingly, CBP says the majority of illegals being arrested in Maine “crossed the southwest border in previous years” – despite the state lying more than 2,000 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Due to crowding at limited holding facilities in Maine, dozens of illegals were flown from Portland to other locations across the U.S. for further processing.
“Here in Maine, Border Patrol Agents are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep our border secure. If you attempt to cross the border illegally, you will be apprehended,” outgoing Acting Chief Patrol Agent Craig Shepley stated last week.
“If you are present in the United States without a legal status, you will be detained and removed in accordance with all applicable immigration laws.”
Significant USBP busts in Houlton Sector have continued into May.
On May 6, two vehicle stops in Caribou led to the apprehensions of five male illegals from Ecuador.
Days later, two more Ecuadorians were arrested at an undisclosed location in Maine.
On May 20, Christopher Kuhn took the reins as Acting Chief Patrol Agent of Houlton Sector.