CBP U.S. Border Patrol Agents Arrest Albanians After Illegal Border Crossing

Algonac, Mich. — On Tuesday, May 22, CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Marysville Station arrested two Albanians shortly after they illegally crossed the U.S.-Canada border by boat.

At approximately 11pm, Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) camera operators observed a boat crossing the St. Clair River from Canada and entering U.S. waters. Border Patrol agents responded to the area, and spotted the boat in a canal in Algonac. The boat eventually pulled up behind a local bar, where agents watched two individuals get out of the boat and make a cell phone call. After the passengers exited the boat, it quickly returned to Canada. Shortly after they finished their phone call, they got into a vehicle and drove south on M-29 through Algonac. Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle on M-29 near Nook Rd, where the two individuals admitted to being citizens of Albania illegally present in the United States. The two were arrested and are currently being detained pending a removal hearing.

James Crawford, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Marysville Border Patrol Station, said “This is a great example of how we are using both ground agents and technology to prevent illegal crossings of our northern border.”

The RVSS is part of an initiative to enhance the use of technology in securing the Northern Border against illegal cross-border activity. Each RVSS site is comprised of a total of four cameras – two day and two night cameras for 24/7 operations. The cameras are monitored from a remote location. The Detroit Sector deployment consists of 12 RVSS sites along the U.S. Canadian border.

To report suspicious activity, call the Detroit Sector Border Patrol’s BorderWatch telephone number toll-free at 800-537-3220.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.