Illegal crossings along the busiest section of the US-Canadian border — which encompasses parts of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire — have plummeted thanks to President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Just 54 migrants were apprehended in the Swanton sector, which stretches almost 300 miles, in March. It is a drastic 95% drop from the 1,109 border crossers caught in March 2024, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
A stark contrast between 1,109 apprehensions in March 2024 & this March with just 54 apprehensions across Swanton Sector; a 95% decrease! pic.twitter.com/23rYE3OLl1
— Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia (@USBPChiefSWB) April 21, 2025
This area recorded more than 80% of all apprehensions along the northern border during the 2024 fiscal year, according to CBP figures.
Stark before-and-after photos posted by Swanton sector Border Patrol Chief Robert Garcia on X on Monday show lines of migrants carrying backpacks traversing through the woods a year ago, versus a lone deer grazing in the same spot now.
Under the Biden administration, illegal crossings at the northern border hit record highs as migrants were being released into the US en masse.
In the Swanton sector, more than 1,400 border crossers were caught in April 2024 — eclipsing the totals from fiscal years 2021 and 2022 combined, according to CBP figures.
When Trump returned to the White House, he ended the previous administration’s use of the problematic “catch and release” border policy and commenced a mass deportation effort.
Northern border residents told The Post that they’ve noticed the change as migrant crossings on their properties, which were once very common under Biden, have come to a screeching halt.
“We haven’t seen anyone since November. It’s been nice not having to scan the yards night and morning,” said Daniel Cowan, who lives along the border in rural Chateaugay, New York, a town of 1,900 residents.
The dramatic drop in northern border crossings also coincides with a drop in migrant encounters along the US-Mexico border.
Border agents patrolling the southern border saw roughly 7,100 illegal migrant crossings in March, the lowest level on record.
That’s down 94% from the 137,000 people who poured across the border in March last year.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico last month. However, the president later suspended the duties on goods that are covered by the USMCA trade deal.
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