15 June
News Flash
Lawmakers Push for Increased Resources and Transparency
Washington, D.C: The U.S.-Canada border has become a growing issue in recent months, highlighted by a significant increase in illegal crossings and a disparity in resources compared to the southern border.
In fiscal year 2020, there were 2,019 Customs and Border Patrol agents assigned to the northern border, compared to 16,878 at the southern border. Despite over 150,000 fewer encounters at the northern border at that time, the number of apprehensions has more than quadrupled since. In the first seven months of fiscal year 2024, 9,460 people were apprehended at the northern border, nearly double the 4,849 apprehensions recorded for all of the previous fiscal year, according to data from Rep. Nick Langworthy’s office.
Langworthy’s bill, which aims to address these issues, currently has 13 co-sponsors, including fellow Republicans from northern border states. "I've personally met with Border Patrol agents in New York and witnessed their struggle firsthand — they are severely under-supported and left to face this crisis with limited resources," Langworthy told News Flash. "This legislation is not just a necessity; it's a demand for more transparency from the Biden administration regarding the safety and sovereignty of our nation."
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., a co-sponsor of the bill, noted an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings since President Biden took office. "There has been an 846% increase across a single sector, threatening our national security and the safety of communities across NY-24," Tenney said.
Critics argue that the focus on the southern border has led to vulnerabilities in the north, making it a new target for illegal crossings.