A resident of Highgate, Vermont, has expressed concerns about safety in light of disconcerting finds made on her property at a period of heightened migration near the northern border. Concerned neighbor Kristy Brow reported seeing abandoned clothes and other items outside her house; she links this problem to the increase in border crossings. During an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Brow, who has security cameras that have captured migrants, expressed her concerns about her family’s safety and her hesitation to go outside by herself.
The Swanton Sector, where Brow’s land is situated, has seen a sharp increase in unauthorized crossings. Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector reports that since October 1, 2023, over 3,100 people from 55 different nations have been arrested in the sector. This figure is higher than the total number of unlawful crossings that were reported in the industry for the combined fiscal years 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. Garcia brought attention to a few incidents, one of which being the early morning capture of four adult male Bangladeshis in the vicinity of Mooers, New York.
The Swanton Sector includes sections of New Hampshire, Vermont, and several counties in New York. Encounters along the whole northern border increased by 241% in 2023 over the previous year, reflecting the surge in migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Brow’s experiences highlight how the larger migratory dilemma has an influence locally. She related incidents that she had seen on her trail camera, such as three individuals traversing her land. When he saw the flash on the camera, the group leader motioned for the others to stop and then to resume when he thought it was safe to do so. Additionally, neighbors have claimed to have seen people moving across Brow’s land.
Brow responded to the issue by saying that she and her family take their safety seriously, even if Border Patrol has not given her any particular instructions to defend herself. Being a hunting family, they take care to secure their property and make sure they are well-protected.
The story of rising migrant crossings along the northern border, which includes the situation in Highgate, has locals worried about both the safety of the migrants and their intentions.