Last Year, Border Agents Arrested a Record Number of People in Maine Illegally

As much of the nation is split on the current administration's mass deportation operations, it is important to remember that, in many cases, those who are in the country illegally are not families looking for a better life.

These men and women, who come from various nations around the globe, often enter the country illegally for illegal purposes.  In many cases they are smuggling drugs in, smuggling people out, or they are here with the intent to commit heinous acts against our population.

And, in many cases, these people are not entering the country through our southern border.  They often sneak across the United States' border with Canada.

In fact, during the last fiscal year, US Border Patrol agents apprehended a record number of people sneaking into Maine.

According to an article on the KJ website, between October 1st, 2024 and September 30th, 2025, border agents took 725 people into custody.

That number is higher than the previous record of 685 apprehensions in 2001 by the Houlton Sector.  The Houlton Sector covers the entire state and our six hundred eleven mile border with Canada.

The people taken into custody between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025 came from 46 countries. That is according to a statement sent by the federal agency.

Even with the rise in apprehensions, officials said the border remains secure.  The agency said there has been an eighty percent drop in illegal crossings along Maine’s section of the United States and Canada border.  They also reported no known "got aways" since January.  A got away is the term they use for someone who crosses illegally, is seen, but is not caught.

According to the statement, this shows the commitment of Border Patrol agents and the overall strength of the agency’s security efforts.

Agents worked with local, state, federal and international partners throughout the year. They shared information that helped the Houlton Sector arrest people who were facing prosecution. That is according to Chief Patrol Agent Derrick Stamper.

The agency did not say what happened to the 725 people taken into custody and they did not say how many were prosecuted or what crimes were involved.

Additionally, it is important to note that the 725 people counted do not include arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.