Latest news with #BorderProtection
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Immigration enforcement officials warn migrants against illegally crossing into country by train
Jun. 11—U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a warning for people looking to illegally get into the United States by train: "It is not worth the risk." Not only is it against the law, officials said, it can lead to injury. The warning came after Border Protection officers assigned to rail operations on Friday arrested a Mexican man allegedly trying to cross into the U.S. in a Union Pacific Railroad car in El Paso, CBP spokesperson Landon Hutchens said in a news release. The man was charged with illegal entry after removal. During a search of a northbound train, officers found the man hiding in a "hollow space at the end of an empty hopper," Hutchens said. After being arrested, officers learned he was previously arrested and deported. "Attempting to enter the United States without inspection via a cargo train is not only illegal, but it is also very dangerous," said Samuel Cleaves, CBP El Paso Field Office assistant director for border security, in a statement. "Aliens attempting to board moving trains sometimes slip and have limbs severed. As temperatures rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the risk of death from heat stroke or dehydration increases. "Also, cargo can shift and injure or trap aliens. Finally, when discovered, the alien will face certain consequences for illegally entering the United States under Title 8 of the U.S. Code. It is not worth the risk." U.S. Customs and Border Protection have arrested 43 people trying to illegally enter the U.S. on trains in fiscal year 2024-25, Hutchens said. In fiscal year 2023-24, he said, 143 people were arrested for the same thing.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Immigration enforcement officials warn migrants against illegally crossing into country by train
Jun. 11—U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a warning for people looking to illegally get into the United States by train: "It is not worth the risk." Not only is it against the law, officials said, it can lead to injury. The warning came after Border Protection officers assigned to rail operations on Friday arrested a Mexican man allegedly trying to cross into the U.S. in a Union Pacific Railroad car in El Paso, CBP spokesperson Landon Hutchens said in a news release. The man was charged with illegal entry after removal. During a search of a northbound train, officers found the man hiding in a "hollow space at the end of an empty hopper," Hutchens said. After being arrested, officers learned he was previously arrested and deported. "Attempting to enter the United States without inspection via a cargo train is not only illegal, but it is also very dangerous," said Samuel Cleaves, CBP El Paso Field Office assistant director for border security, in a statement. "Aliens attempting to board moving trains sometimes slip and have limbs severed. As temperatures rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the risk of death from heat stroke or dehydration increases. "Also, cargo can shift and injure or trap aliens. Finally, when discovered, the alien will face certain consequences for illegally entering the United States under Title 8 of the U.S. Code. It is not worth the risk." U.S. Customs and Border Protection have arrested 43 people trying to illegally enter the U.S. on trains in fiscal year 2024-25, Hutchens said. In fiscal year 2023-24, he said, 143 people were arrested for the same thing.
Vancouver Sun
20-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Cross-border travel from B.C. to Washington state plunges 50% over May long weekend
Only half as many British Columbians crossed into Washington state this past long weekend than a year ago, but it still may take a bit longer to get home, if you're unlucky. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been adding periodic outgoing inspections of vehicles headed back to Canada at the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway border crossings. The latest inspections took place on May 18 and 19 on the long weekend. 'Outbound inspections at ports west of the Cascades are conducted as operationally feasible, supporting … efforts to combat the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit substances,' Border Protection spokesperson Jason Givens said in an email. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Outbound operations are driven by various factors, including intelligence, binational efforts, random surges, and sustained law enforcement needs,' Givens said. The additional inspections come as travel from B.C. to Washington state has plummeted. Just over 18,000 British Columbia licensed vehicles drove south to Washington state over this year's May long weekend, according to data collected by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington state's Department of Transportation. That's down from nearly 37,000 vehicles during the same weekend last year. 'This is not common, first of all,' Mary Lou Steward, the mayor of Blaine, Washington, said of the additional inspections by U.S. authorities. She said during a recent day-long symposium Border Protection officials told her and other local political and business leaders that there was reason to believe more fentanyl was coming into the U.S. from Canada than statistics suggested. 'That's what (the CBP) said,' Steward said. 'They also said that they are not trying to harass Canadians.' Canada is the largest source of international visitors to the U.S., according to the U.S. Travel Association, which warned in February that a 10 per cent reduction in Canadian travel to the U.S. would mean $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 lost jobs. U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods in February and then-prime minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to spend domestically in response. 'Now is the time to choose Canada. … It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,' Trudeau sai. In early March, Premier David Eby urged British Columbians to avoid travel to the U.S. 'If you have a choice about where to travel, avoid travelling to the United States,' he said. Steward was concerned about the impacts that political rhetoric and inspections could have on her border community. Blaine's economy is directly tied to visitors from British Columbia. 'We don't have industry, and a very large commercial area,' Steward said. 'Even with the change in the dollar, (Canadians) still have been coming down to do their shopping and buying their gas, and their dairy, and their parcels from Amazon,' she said. 'I don't want Canadians to think that we and Blaine approve of this,' Steward said of Trump's tariff and annexation threats. 'I want to do anything I can possibly do to try and mitigate this and get ready for the healing phase.' @njgriffiths ngriffiths@
Global News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
U.S. immigration lawyer says he's never seen additional checkpoint at B.C. border
A U.S. immigration lawyer says he's never seen an additional checkpoint at the B.C.-U.S. border for travellers heading back into Canada. Over the past four days, U.S. border guards have been stopping vehicles at random to search them. Global News saw agents climb inside a van with the search lasting about two minutes. U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Global News in a statement that these checks are 'routine inspections, a tool to apprehend unwanted individuals and contraband.' Not every vehicle is stopped and checked but Border Protection said it could not answer if the choices are made at random as that information is law enforcement sensitive. 'I want to know what's changed,' lawyer Len Saunders said. Story continues below advertisement 'I've been doing this, practising immigration law in Blaine for almost a quarter century. I've never seen them do this. I want (to) know why. I don't want some rhetoric, blah-blah answer.' 2:43 U.S. border checkpoints randomly search cars bound for Canada The additional checkpoint comes as the number of Canadians heading to the U.S. continues to drop. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Just under 100,000 vehicles with B.C. plates travelled south in April, which is less than half the number from the same time last year. It is also impacting U.S. businesses. 'Do I understand it? Yes, for sure,' Seattle-based restaurateur Ethan Stowell said. 'I think there's tension where there usually is not tension. And that's gonna hinder things.' Seattle businesses are launching a campaign to entice Canadians to head down. Story continues below advertisement This Friday and Saturday, to coincide with the Blue Jays game, some restaurants, hotels and even the Space Needle are offering a 30-per cent discount, effectively putting the Canadian dollar on par with the U.S. 'Not only does it tell our Canadian friends that we're open for business, our doors are open to them, but that we value them,' hotel general manager of The Lodge at St. Edward Park, Corey Roettgers, said. 'We hear them and we understand what they're going through.'
CBS News
06-05-2025
- CBS News
Fake designer watches worth over $6.5 million seized at Chicago O'Hare Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a shipment of counterfeit designer watches at O'Hare Airport this week that would have been worth millions of dollars if real. CBP officials said the shipment arrived from China on May 4, and contained nearly 250 counterfeit watches that mimicked the designer brands Audermas Piguet, Rolex, Breitling, Bulgari, Cartier, Omega, Paneria, Richard Mille, Tag Heuer, Patek Phillipe and Vacheron. The shipment was meant for Bensenville, Illinois, officials said. If real, the fakes would have been worth more than $6.5 million. Last week, CBP officers intercepted shipments of more than 500 watches worth over $9 million if real, as well as counterfeit driver's licenses, which came from Hong Kong and China.
