A couple of people from India have been arrested in Maine for entering the country illegally, which brings the total to 16 illegal crossings in a single week.
The Border Patrol’s Houlton Sector says the Indian nationals illegally crossed the U.S.-Canada border on foot near Bridgewater in Aroostook County.
They join 13 Romanians and a man from Colombia who have recently been taken into custody in Maine.
The Romanians were arrested during a routine traffic stop near Skowhegan, while the Colombian man was taken into custody in Union.
The 16 arrests were all made between July 27 and August 1 in Maine, a six day stretch.
The 13 Romanians were arrested on Sunday, July 27 and are now facing deportation.
The Colombian man, who was also accused of being a gang member, was taken into custody on Wednesday, July 30. Border Patrol says he also had an outstanding warrant for burglary in New Jersey, and was previously arrested for entering the country illegally in El Paso, Texas in 2022. He was found to be a member of a South American theft group.
The Indian nationals were arrested last Friday, August 1. ICE says those apprehension are unusual because Border Patrol agents in Maine have only encountered 15 Indian nationals in the previous three fiscal years. Border Patrol says the two Indian nationals will be placed into removal proceedings.
