National

Southbound surges of U.S. agents causing delays, 'disarray' at Canada-U.S. border

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jul, 2023 10:13 AM

Members of Congress are growing concerned about what they say is a shortage of agents on the southern side of the Canada-U.S. border.

New York Democrat Rep. Brian Higgins says Customs and Border Protection personnel are being temporarily reassigned to help fortify the U.S. border with Mexico.

Higgins says as a result, busy points of entry along the Canada-U.S. border are seeing longer delays and unstaffed kiosks.

He says that's despite the fact that cross-border traffic between Ontario and New York is still only about 85 per cent of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans are also worried and several wrote to CBP last month to request details about staffing levels amid fears that illegal crossings are on the rise.

A spokesman for Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale says the department has yet to respond to the request.

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