The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Stand up for the facts! Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Elise Stefanik stated on January 28, 2024 in a television interview: “We’ve seen an 800% increase in the Swanton sector, which is the part of the northern border that I represent, in illegal crossings.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" true/3d4df195c595a07e3fd69b5e4aab3e3c.jpg.\\") ![\\"true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * Immigration * New Hampshire * Border Security * Vermont * New York * Elise Stefanik ![\\"The](\\" The headquarters of the U.S. Border Patrol\'s Swanton Sector in Swanton, Vt., on Feb. 10, 2020. (AP) ![\\"Jill](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos February 23, 2024 # Illegal crossings at the US-Canada border increase, but lag far behind the southern border #### If Your Time is short * The northern border has seen increases in illegal crossings of varying amounts, depending upon the time periods that are compared. * One comparison, highlighted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shows that there was an 846% increase when a four-month period was compared, year-over-year. * Learn more about PolitiFact\'s fact-checking process and rating system. See the sources for this fact-check Migrants crossing into the United States from the southern border get many headlines, but there has also been an increase in crossings at the U.S.-Canada border. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who represents a geographically large district in the North Country and Adirondack Park, said on Fox News that the number of illegal crossings is many times higher than it has been in the past. \"We’ve seen an 800% increase in the Swanton sector, which is the part of the northern border that I represent, in illegal crossings,\" Stefanik said Jan 28 on \"Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.\" We wondered if there has been an increase of 800% in illegal crossings. The Swanton sector includes an estimated 24,000 square miles and includes northeastern counties in New York, three counties in New Hampshire and all of Vermont. It is responsible for 295 miles of the U.S.-Canada border, over land and water. Year-over-year increases in illegal crossings have been steady since the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2020, rising from just 365 that year to 1,065 in the next fiscal year, which ended in September 2022. In fiscal year 2023, the number of people encountered at the border jumped to 6,925, representing the largest year-over-year increase so far. However, if current trends continue, 2024 will outpace the jump in 2023. In the first three months of fiscal year 2024, there have been 2,607 crossings, compared with 1,147 during the same period last year. Within this data, there are different time periods in which to calculate the increase, all yielding different results. Stefanik could have seen a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release from February 2023, which stated that there had been an approximate 846% increase in encounters and apprehensions between Oct. 1, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023, compared with the same period in fiscal year 2022. In November, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the Swanton sector posted on X that there had been a 550% increase in apprehensions between fiscal year 2022 and 2023, and that the migrants came from 79 countries. Garcia posted in August that apprehensions in just over 10 months exceeded the previous nine years combined. Experts we spoke with found that the increases, while large for the northern border, are small when compared to other places on the northern border, or the southern border, which has many more crossings. \"Percentages can look really big, but the numbers themselves can be quite small,\" said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, an associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Mike Rogers stated on August 27, 2024 in a campaign rally Rep. Elissa Slotkin “voted recently to let illegals vote in U.S. elections.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Caleb McCullough • September 3, 2024 U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Buffalo Field Office, which operates ports of entry in Erie and Niagara counties, has many more encounters, 84,429 in fiscal year 2023, or 12 times more than the Swanton sector. \"Encounters\" are people seeking admission who are not authorized to do so. Along the entire southern border during 2023, there were more than 6,700 encounters per day on average, or 2.48 million total. Immigration experts caution that the number of encounters at a border is not the same thing as the number of people who tried to cross, because the same person could try to cross more than once. But Stefanik said crossings, not people. Are these illegal crossings? Any crossing of the border without prior authorization is an illegal entry, but people have a right to ask for asylum, saying they have a fear of returning to their home country, Putzel-Kavanaugh said. These asylum seekers are released with a charge that they entered illegally. When they ask for asylum, they can defend their charge with the reasons why they are seeking asylum. Experts attributed the higher migration at the U.S.-Canada border with an increase in migration around the world, Canada’s decision in 2016 to permit Mexicans to fly there without stringent visa requirements, and a subsequent southern movement of these migrants. Last spring, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requested that Canada reimpose the visa restrictions, but Canada has not done that, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, a pro- immigration advocacy organization. Data from the Swanton sector show that the top two countries of origin for migrants crossing there are Mexico and India. Stefanik’s office did not return a request for comment. Our ruling Stefanik claimed that there has been at some point an 800% increase in illegal crossings in the Swanton sector of the U.S.-Canada border. Stefanik did not say which time period she was talking about. The increases in unauthorized crossings vary depending on the time period, but there have been increases exceeding 800% at the border. The actual numbers of encounters remain very low compared with crossings at the southern border. The crossings are illegal, but people seeking asylum can use their status as an asylum seeker as a defense for crossing illegally. We rate Stefanik’s claim True. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources U.S. Customs and Border Protection Encounters in the Swanton Sector as of Jan. 4, 2024. Fox Business, \"Sunday Morning Futures\" video, Jan. 28, 2024. Phone interview, Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst, Migration Policy Institute, Feb. 7, 2024. Email interview, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, Feb. 12, 2024. U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, X post, Nov. 21, 2023, and X post, Aug. 7, 2023. ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Jill Terreri Ramos ![](\\" ![](\\" Claudia Tenney stated on July 3, 2024 in a social media post: Biden Executive Order 14019 “requires our taxpayer-funded federal agencies to violate the Hatch Act and engage in illegal vote harvesting.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • August 2, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ritchie Torres stated on May 23, 2024 in a television interview: “The loss of SALT deductibility cost our state $15 billion in revenue. So New Yorkers are paying more in taxes and receiving fewer services because of Donald Trump.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • June 21, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kathy Hochul stated on February 22, 2024 in an interview: In New York, there are no barriers to law enforcement to work with the federal government on immigration laws, and there are 100 crimes where migrants can be handed over. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • March 29, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Elise Stefanik stated on January 28, 2024 in a television interview: “We’ve seen an 800% increase in the Swanton sector, which is the part of the northern border that I represent, in illegal crossings.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos • February 23, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Nick LaLota stated on November 18, 2023 in a social media post: Under New York’s Clean Slate Act “violent crimes … will now be automatically sealed after a set time - like they never happened.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • January 1, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" New York Citizens Audit stated on August 25, 2023 in a report: A discrepancy in the number of ballots and voters in the 2022 general election in New York “appears to be a federal crime.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos • October 29, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Nicole Malliotakis stated on July 14, 2023 in a radio interview: “You can work at some McDonald’s in this country for more money than … signing up for the military.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • July 28, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on June 5, 2023 in a podcast: Atrazine in the water supply is contributing to \"sexual dysphoria\" in kids. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Grace Abels • June 28, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kathy Hochul stated on May 9, 2023 in a news conference: The New York state budget covers 96% of eligible preschoolers ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • May 18, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" TikTok posts stated on April 26, 2023 in a TikTok post: Fauci, DOD and CDC funded deadly pathogen research at Sudan lab ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos • May 8, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on March 1, 2023 in a social media post: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants “quarantine camps” and “imprisonment” if you’re suspected of having a disease. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • April 29, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on March 20, 2023 in a news conference: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “has downgraded over 50% of the felonies to misdemeanors.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos • April 8, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Elise Stefanik stated on February 9, 2023 in a Tweet: 53% of Americans made aware of the Hunter Biden laptop story would have changed their vote in 2020. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos • February 25, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Robert Ortt stated on January 20, 2023 in in a news conference: If New York’s proposed limits on natural gas in buildings take effect, the grid today can’t handle the increased electric load. ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Jill Terreri Ramos • February 8, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Eric Adams stated on January 7, 2023 in a radio interview: “Fifty-one percent of our taxes are paid by 2% of New Yorkers.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Jill Terreri Ramos • January 24, 2023 ### Illegal crossings at the US-Canada border increase, but lag far behind the southern border * ![](\\" ![](\\" Tim Sheehy stated on September 10, 2024 in an op-ed: Jon Tester “supported slashing Social Security benefits” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Louis Jacobson • September 25, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 22, 2024 in a Threads post: Florida \"put Tom Walz instead of Tim Walz\" on its ballots. ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Jeff Cercone • September 25, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Tim Walz stated on September 21, 2024 in in Bethlehem, Pa.: “Donald Trump added more to the national debt than any other president, ever.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 25, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Senate Leadership Fund stated on September 17, 2024 in a TV ad: “Two years ago, Bob Casey promised us his vote will reduce inflation. ... Casey’s vote for reckless spending” made inflation worse. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 25, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 23, 2024 in an Instagram post: Video shows Vice President Kamala Harris “hammered.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 24, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 23, 2024 in a Threads post: Travis Kelce endorsed Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 24, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 15, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: \"Profesores de la Universidad de Howard confirman: \'Kamala fue la peor estudiante de la historia\'\". ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Marta Campabadal Graus • September 24, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 21, 2024 in an X post: Video shows Vice President Kamala Harris using a teleprompter. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 24, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Jacky Rosen stated on August 13, 2024 in an ad: “Sam Brown publicly supported forcing massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare and was caught on tape saying he admires the plan to phase out Social Security and Medicare in five years.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Seth A. Richardson • September 24, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 21, 2024 in a video: Tim Walz said \"we can\'t afford four more years\" of Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • September 24, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Sign me up #### Offices District of Columbia 1800 I Street NW Washington, DC 20006 Florida 801 3rd St. S St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-821-9494 #### People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis #### State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin #### About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters #### RSS Feeds * Recent Articles and Fact-checks * Recent Fact-checks Suggest a Fact-check #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Copyright ©All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ![\\"\\"](\\" ✕ * * *
We’ve seen an 800 increase in the Swanton sector which is the part of the northern border that I represent in illegal crossings