Border Patrol agents stationed in the Swanton Sector are now equipped with advanced training in the use of a new unmanned aircraft system, officials announced today.
The training, held recently at a sector facility, focused on the deployment and operation of drone technology designed to enhance border security operations. According to U.S. Border Patrol, the new platform will support agents in both the apprehension of individuals who have entered the country illegally and the rescue of people who become lost or endangered in the region’s vast and often remote woodlands.
“Using unmanned aerial systems provides our agents with better situational awareness in difficult terrain, which can be critical in saving lives or preventing illegal activity,” a Border Patrol spokesperson said.
The Swanton Sector, which spans parts of Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire, is known for its heavily forested landscape and long stretches of rural border territory. Officials say this makes it a challenging area to patrol and an ideal environment for leveraging aerial surveillance technology.
Border Patrol emphasized that the adoption of new tools like drones reflects their commitment to using the latest resources to “secure our borders and keep our communities safe.”
The Swanton Sector has reported increasing use of technology in recent years, including motion sensors, surveillance cameras, and now drones, as part of a broader strategy to address evolving border security challenges.
In an unrelated development, two Mexican nationals reputed as leaders of the immigrant advocacy organization Migrant Justice were detained Saturday, June 14.
Border Patrol agents in Vermont detained two Migrant Justice leaders, Jose Ignacio de La Cruz (aka ‘Nacho’) and Heidi Perez, the organization stated on its Facebook page. “Nacho was driving with his stepdaughter Heidi in Franklin County when they were pulled over. Agents smashed their car window and violently detained the two community leaders. Nacho and Heidi are now at imminent risk of deportation,” Migrant Justice said.
The detainments drew criticism from immigrants’ rights activists and former Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, “Remember, President Trump recently said not farm workers. It’s another “Say one thing, execute another” moment,” Zuckerman posted on Facebook. He urged supporters to “get to the Richford Barracks ASAP.”
ICE in Northfield? Also, residents of Northfield saw ICE agents and a group of people believed to be immigrant workers on Main Street in Northfield this weekend, just a few minutes apart. The workers are believed to be – or had been – employed at a local bakery.
Cover photo from Swanton Sector Border Patrol Facebook page