The Maine Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) sent 42 illegal immigrants out of state for further deportation proceedings on a single flight on May 23, following a record number of arrests in April.
“Houlton Sector Border Patrol Agents work tirelessly to keep our nation and communities secure. The rise in apprehensions over the course of this year reflects the hard work credited to the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol in carrying out national security priorities with inter-agency partners,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Christopher Kuhn
“This flight demonstrates those partnerships in action to ensure that individuals illegally present in the U.S. are apprehended and repatriated to their country of origin,” he added.
The flight departed from Presque Isle and delivered the illegal immigrants to Detroit for further deportation proceedings.
The flight came after the Houlton Border Patrol sector, which encompasses the whole of Maine’s border, saw a 24-year high in the number of arrests in April, thanks to increased enforcement activities. The agency arrested 113 illegal immigrants from 16 countries in April.
The agency’s enforcement activities are continuing unabated. On Monday, the Houlton Border Patrol announced the arrest of five illegal immigrants who were discovered during a vehicle stop.
They have since been handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal.
