The location of the shooting south of Quebec, and the involvement of a border agent makes a connection to Canada’s border seem likely
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Tom Homan, U.S. President Donald Trump’s border czar, said the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on a highway just south of Quebec on Monday is another sign there needs to be more focus on the U.S.-Canada border.
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The location of the shooting — southbound on Interstate 91 in Vermont, about 20 kilometres south of the border crossing at Stanstead, Que. — and the involvement of a border agent conducting a traffic stop, makes a connection to Canada’s border seem a likely scenario, but there has been no official confirmation.
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A U.S. Border Patrol agent, 44-year-old David Maland, was shot dead in the line of duty Monday afternoon, officials said. Two suspects were also reportedly shot, including one who died.
The dead civilian was a German national and the injured civilian is a U.S. citizen, who is in custody, according to the Washington Post, attributing the information to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. This could not be independently confirmed by National Post. There has so far been no official information on citizenship or immigration status.
The area of the incident is close to Northeast Kingdom International Airport.
Appearing on Fox News, Homan said that region of the United States’ northern border is a particular problem, with a steep rise in crossings.
Homan said illegal border crossers from countries such as India, Pakistan and Turkey are attracted to Canada as a staging ground for “people that can afford … to sneak across the northern border, which is much easier.”
“The Northern border is not going to be underlooked by the Trump administration,” he said.
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Homan said his heart breaks for the agent and his family.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released few details, saying only that “a Border Patrol agent assigned to the US Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector was fatally shot in the line of duty. The incident is currently being investigated.”
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s thoughts and prayers are with Agent Maland’s family during this difficult time,” said a statement from CBP public affairs issued late Tuesday afternoon.
The FBI is leading the investigation. An FBI spokesperson said more information is being prepared for release.
The Canada Border Services Agency declined to say whether the shooting had any impact on Canada’s borders or whether CBSA had been contacted by the FBI or CBP officers for information regarding southbound travellers.
“The Canada Border Services Agency stands with its United States law enforcement counterparts and we are ready to assist as needed,” a CBSA statement said.
“We are very saddened by the passing today of a U.S Border Patrol officer while on duty in Vermont. Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the family, friends, and colleagues of a respected member of the border security community.”
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The RCMP declined to answer questions about its involvement, if any.
Vermont State Police initially closed Interstate 91 in both directions between exits 27 (to Newport) and 26 (to Orleans) “due to an evolving police incident” shortly before 3:30 p.m., Monday. The northbound lane was reopened a few hours later but the southbound lane remained closed overnight.
The highway was fully reopened Tuesday.
The northern border has seen escalating border interactions by U.S. authorities in recent years, with numbers increasing each year in the last three, reaching 198,929 in fiscal year 2024.
That trend might not be holding. U.S. northern border encounters were lower in the last three months of 2024 from the same months in both of the previous two years.
“Every single day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure,” Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamin Huffman said. “My prayers and deepest condolences are with our Department, the agent’s family, loved ones, and colleagues.”
The Swanton Sector of U.S. CBP covers 62,000 square kilometres of Vermont, five counties in New York, and three counties in New Hampshire, including includes 475 kilometres of the Canada-U.S. border, adjacent to Quebec and Ontario.
Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia said in October that his agents apprehended 19,385 subjects from 97 countries during fiscal year 2024, a record high.
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