By Michael Donoghue
Vermont News First
An illegal immigrant, who has been deported twice previously due to rejected claims that his life was in jeopardy from a Canadian street gang, has been busted again in Derby Line, federal court records show.
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Benjamin Paul Sheldon Schooner, 35, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada after he attempted to illegally cross the international border near the Haskell Library and Opera House in Derby Line on Christmas Day about 12:20 a.m., records show.
He was one of two men caught on Christmas Day trying to cross the border illegally in Derby Line.
Schooner, who tried twice earlier to claim asylum, has a lengthy criminal history, including robbery, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, possession of a weapon and resisting arrest, federal court records show.
Schooner claimed he was in fear for his life and that’s why he requested asylum, records show.
This time he told the Border Patrol that he was in fear for his life because there were drones trying to kill him, court records noted.
The Border Patrol said it could not find any drones flying in the area that night.
During a March 2022 illegal entry at Sault Saint Marie, Mich., Schooner told officers he was fleeing for his life from members of the Individual Soldiers gang in Canada and they wanted to kill him, court records show.
His claim was rejected, and Schooner was sent back to Canada, the Border Patrol reported.
Schooner tried again at Port of Entry at Batavia, N.Y. on Nov. 13, 2024, and he claimed fear, but it was rejected again, records show. There was a reinstated Order of Removal issued, records show.
Now Schooner has tried at least his third attempt to cross into the United States without going through a proper port of entry, the Border Patrol said.
President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have said the United States is trying to reject undesirables from entering the country, while also trying to get others that are here illegally to leave.
Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle ordered Schooner detained pending further court hearings.
Schooner’s criminal record began when he was 13 years-old, court records show. It has continued through 2024.
U.S. Border Patrol records indicate that Schooner was born in Vancouver, B.C. in 1990 and was considered a Canadian citizen. However, there are also reports that indicate he is considered an alien from Guatemala and Spain.
A second man from Mexico also was arrested on Christmas night for unlawful entry into the United States, records show.
Abelardo Gamboa-Penaloza, 30, crossed the international border on foot near Lee Street in Derby Line about 6:45 p.m.
Gamboa-Penalozawas was detained until he could be heard by Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle on Tuesday.
Gamboa-Penaloza agreed to plead guilty to unlawful entry and was sentenced by Doyle to time served. Gamboa-Penaloza will now face deportation.
The Border Patrol said a fingerprint examination showed it was likely Gamboa-Penaloza’s first contact with immigration officials.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had alerted the Border Patrol about somebody walking south near Pelow Hill Road and Lee Street in Derby Line. A video showed the suspect walk around a gate designed to try to block illegal entry, the Border Patrol said.
Instead, a Border Patrol Agent in uniform and driving his marked cruiser checked footprints in the snow and found Gamboa-Penaloza trying to hide behind a tree next to the southbound lane of Interstate 91.