U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two men and one woman on Mar. 15 after they crossed the Upper Niagara River from Canada into the United States in a small rubber raft, according to a statement released by authorities.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about border security and the dangers involved in illegal crossings, especially when children are present.
Agents from the Buffalo Station responded to reports of an illegal entry and found a rubber raft along with its operator, identified as a Mexican national with no criminal record. Nearby, agents discovered an adult male Irish national, an adult female from the United Kingdom, and their infant hiding behind a tree. All four were taken into custody.
The Mexican national was charged with human smuggling, unlawful entry into the U.S., and child endangerment. The Irish man faces charges for illegally re-entering the country after being deported in June 2025; he is also wanted on felony assault charges in Rhode Island and will be extradited there following federal immigration proceedings. The woman and her infant were processed by authorities and removed to Canada.
“Crossing the border illegally is dangerous under any circumstances, but taking an infant across the freezing Niagara River in a small raft is especially reckless,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato of U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector. “This kind of risk endangers not just the adults, but the life of a very young child and the Border Patrol agents who put their lives at risk every day securing our nation’s borders.”
Buffalo Sector oversees security for 341 miles of international maritime border—including sections of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Niagara River, and Saint Lawrence Seaway—spanning parts of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Authorities encourage community members to report suspicious activity that may impact border safety.
