CBP Agent: Mexicans make up the largest percentage of immigrants apprehended at U.S. Canadian border

(Fargo, ND) -- A border agent based in the Customs and Border Protection office in Grand Forks says Mexicans make up the highest percentage of illegal immigrants apprehended at the U.S. Canadian border.  

"So what they're doing is they're flying in to Canada and then coming back down south. So those people who can afford to buy a plane ticket, fly into Canada, in their minds maybe it's easier for them to cross through the Northern Border," said CBP Agent David Marcus.  

Marcus says so far in the first quarter this year, the number of apprehensions of illegal immigrants in the Grand Forks sector is up 480 percent. The portion of the border he and his colleagues patrol stretches from the Great Lakes to Montana.  Marcus says apprehensions in January totaled 70. That compares to January, 2022 when the total was 11.

Marcus says other groups being apprehended include Hondurans, people from other Central American countries, and Canadians. The agent says immigrants are motivated to enter the United States because of economic hardship or violence in their home countries. 

Original Air Date: 
Thursday, February 23, 2023