As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, his newly appointed border czar, Tom Homan, has flagged the U.S.-Canada border as an “extreme national security vulnerability” and outlined plans for immediate action once the new Republican administration assumes power. Homan, a former acting director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), emphasized that the northern border poses a significant security concern due to the increasing number of unauthorized crossings and its strategic use by human smugglers and individuals from countries deemed high-risk by the U.S.
In a recent interview with 7News in Watertown, N.Y., Homan, who is from the nearby community of West Carthage, expressed deep concern over the region’s security challenges. He pointed out that while the U.S.-Mexico border has long been the primary focus of immigration policy, recent data shows that irregular crossings from Canada have surged, particularly through the border zones of eastern Ontario, Quebec, New York, and Vermont. This trend, Homan argued, necessitates urgent and tough discussions with Ottawa.
“The problem with the northern border is a huge national security issue,” Homan said. “Special interest aliens—individuals from countries that the U.S. identifies as state sponsors of terror—are taking advantage of the more sparsely patrolled Canadian border to enter the U.S. It’s one of the key issues I will tackle while working in the White House.”
Data provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) highlights the sharp increase in irregular crossings. Over a 12-month period ending October 2, U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Swanton Sector, which covers parts of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, detained over 19,000 individuals from 97 different countries. This number significantly surpasses the combined total of detentions in the same area over the previous 17 fiscal years. Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, who leads the Swanton Sector, reported these unprecedented statistics in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), underscoring the scale of the challenge.
This spike in human smuggling and unauthorized entries has strained local U.S. border enforcement efforts and has become a focal point in political debates. Trump, during his election campaign, repeatedly emphasized the importance of securing both northern and southern borders. His stance was echoed by former Republican contenders Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, who also raised concerns about border security during their primary bids.
Homan’s deep connection to the region—West Carthage is located just 70 kilometers southeast of Ontario’s Thousand Islands region—adds a personal dimension to his commitment. “It’s home,” Homan said. “I’m not going to ignore home.” He has pledged to oversee a stringent set of border security measures, mass deportations, and direct reporting to President Trump, with a focus on fortifying the northern border.
Homan stated that collaboration with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be essential to ensure that Canada’s immigration and border control laws align with U.S. security priorities. “There has to be an understanding from Canada that they can’t be a gateway to terrorists coming into the United States,” he said.
Canadian officials responded with a tempered message emphasizing ongoing cooperation. Gabriel Brunet, spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, noted that both countries share a vested interest in maintaining border security. “Canadian law enforcement agencies work day in and day out, alongside their U.S. counterparts, to ensure the integrity of our shared border,” Brunet said. LeBlanc’s office expressed its commitment to building a constructive relationship with the incoming U.S. administration.
The issue of border security has influenced Canadian policy in the past. U.S. pressure related to irregular crossings contributed to Canada reimposing visa requirements on Mexican nationals last winter after a spike in crossings into New York state and Vermont. Mexican nationals had been one of the major contributors to the surge before the policy shift. Currently, U.S. data identifies India as the top source country for irregular border crossings from Canada.
The complex issue of human smuggling adds another layer of urgency. Organized crime groups, exploiting the porous nature of certain sections of the border, often charge between $1,500 to $6,000 per person to facilitate these dangerous crossings. These routes typically originate from major urban centers such as Toronto or Montreal and traverse challenging terrains, including rivers, farmlands, and dense forests. Tragically, some of these journeys have fatal outcomes. Last December, Ana Karen Vasquez-Flores, a 33-year-old pregnant woman from Mexico, died after attempting to cross into the U.S. from Canada near Champlain, N.Y.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been active in combatting such activities, with notable successes, including the dismantling of an international smuggling ring linked to the drowning deaths of two families—one from India and the other from Romania—in March 2023. The RCMP’s operation highlighted the perils faced by individuals seeking to cross the border through unauthorized means.
Conservative voices in Canada, such as Tom Kmiec, the party’s critic for immigration, refugee, and citizenship, have been quick to point out the perceived failings of the current Liberal government. Kmiec criticized the 2016 decision to remove visa requirements for Mexican nationals, labeling it an “error” that contributed to the influx. “On border security and visa integrity, the Liberals just aren’t worth the cost,” he said, pointing to high-profile cases involving individuals with alleged ties to terrorist organizations as evidence.
The spotlight on northern border security signals a shift in the U.S.’s approach to border management under Trump’s leadership, suggesting that Canada-U.S. relations will be tested as both nations navigate the challenge of balancing security with humanitarian obligations.
