Massena, NY, Mar 15, 2013 — A Pakistani man picked up by Massena Border Patrol agents earlier this week is being prosecuted for entering the U.S. illegally.

In a press release, the border patrol says it responded to a call for assistance from the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal police late Wednesday night, near Hogansburg, New York. The Tribal Police had encountered the man, who is a national from Pakistan, while on patrol in the Akwesasne community.

When border agents interviewed the man, they determined he was in the U.S. illegally. He was transported to the Massena Border Patrol Station for processing, and is now being prosecuted.

He faces federal court charges of the Entry without Inspection.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Mar 12, 2013 — The union representing border patrol agents says it's being unfairly targeted for spending cuts under the sequester, and that there will be less of a law enforcement presence along the North Country's border with Canada.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Oct 21, 2010 — Ruben Garcia is a human rights advocate who lives on the U.S.-Mexico border. For more than 30 years, he has run Annunciation House, an emergency shelter for migrants and the homeless in El Paso, Texas. Garcia will speak to students and the public at St. Lawrence University in Canton today. The issue of border security, illegal drugs and immigration is complex along the southern border. He'll give a presentation, titled "The Border as a Prophet: Voices Calling us to Justice", in St. Lawrence's Carnegie 10 at 7 pm. Garcia joined Todd Moe in the studio this morning for a first person account on the effects of beefed-up military patrols, the drugs wars, human rights and life along the southern border.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 17, 2010 — One wrinkle in the immigration picture has been particularly difficult for foreign students and professionals working in the U.S.

There are two agencies within Homeland Security that handle visas. The one that issues them is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It says a foreign national may reapply or change a visa status "in a timely manner" before its expiration date. The visa itself may take weeks or months to process. The U.S. Border Patrol however, only looks at the expiration date.

If a person's visa has expired, that person is subject to detention. Immigration lawyer Hilary Fraser of Ithaca has defended clients caught between these two interpretations of the law. She told David Sommerstein one was a Filipino national living in Watertown.  Go to full article

May 28, 2008 — The district attorney in Franklin County says a Grand Jury will investigate the shooting of a Franklin County man by two U.S. Border Patrol agents earlier this month. Timothy Fleury, age 25, was critically wounded on May 5 and remains in the hospital. Jacob Resneck has details.  Go to full article

Oct 24, 2007 — The U.S. Border Patrol detained five illegal immigrants earlier this month in St. Lawrence County. Border patrol agents, state police, and local police officers chased the workers through the woods, aided by a helicopter's searchlight. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Mar 17, 2006 — The federal government is considering a permanent, 24-hour checkpoint on the Northway - near a controversial temporary stop in North Hudson. Area legislators and business leaders are lining up in opposition. A statement from Congressman John Sweeney simply calls it "wrong." Gregory Warner called Plattsburgh for a local reaction.  Go to full article

Jan 20, 2006 — This week the Department of Homeland Security announced it will require U.S. and Canadian citizens to show new ID cards at the Canadian border. Officials say they're necessary to tighten security. The U.S. border patrol uses another method to stop smugglers and potential terrorists - road checkpoints inside the U.S.-Canada border. The Army Corps of Engineers is doing a feasibility study on whether to make a border checkpoint on the Adirondack Northway permanent and staffed 24 hours a day. 4 people died and more than 50 were seriously injured in accidents there in 2004. But there are also dozens of border patrol checkpoints on smaller roads across the North Country. The Border Patrol says they're a critical second line of defense for stopping terrorism and smuggling. But some citizens and civil liberties groups say they're an invasion of privacy and may not be very effective. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 07, 2005 — Civilian border watchers first caused controversy in April observing the Arizona border. Last month The Minutemen Civil Defense Corp expanded their watch to include more of the southern border, and parts of the Canadian border with New York and Vermont.

Critics say members of the minutemen have ties to hate groups. But Republicans in the House have proposed a bill that would set up an official "border corps" for civilian volunteers. Gregory Warner joined a dozen minutemen when they camped out in Fort Covington two weekends ago.  Go to full article

May 03, 2005 — The U.S. Border Patrol has dramatically increased the use of road checkpoints inside the U.S.- Canada border. One on the Adirondack Northway grabbed headlines last year after 4 people died and more than 50 were seriously injured in accidents there. But there are also dozens of border patrol checkpoints on smaller roads across the North Country. The Border Patrol says they're a critical second line of defense for stopping terrorism. But some citizens and civil liberties groups say they're an invasion of privacy and may not be very effective. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article