Adversaries Shifting Focus to Northern Border After Southern Border Crackdown, FBI Director Warns
US adversaries, including China and Russia, are increasingly targeting the US northern border with Canada after heightened security measures significantly reduced illegal crossings at the southern border, FBI Director Kash Patel told lawmakers Wednesday, as per Fox News.
Testifying before the House Intelligence Committee, Patel stated that the perceived success in addressing the crisis at the southern border has prompted adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran to redirect resources towards exploiting vulnerabilities along the northern border.
“The enemy adapts,” Patel emphasized.
While acknowledging that adversaries haven’t completely abandoned the southern border, Patel asserted that the increased security measures implemented since President Donald Trump took office have significantly complicated the illegal movement of people and illicit substances, such as fentanyl. He credited a “monumental effort” to secure the border and prevent known or suspected terrorists from entering the country.
Patel’s comments come amidst a dramatic shift in border dynamics following Trump’s policies, which have reportedly led to a 90% drop in US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded encounters in most sectors compared to the same period last year. This shift was bolstered by the deployment of thousands of U.S. military troops assisting CBP agents in reinforcing barriers and conducting surveillance.
This relative calm at the southern border follows a period of record-high illegal crossings during the four years of the Biden administration, a surge that also included a significant increase in attempted crossings by immigrants originating from outside of North and Latin America.
Notably, Chinese nationals were among the most prominent groups attempting illegal entry, with encounters soaring to over 24,000 in 2023, a staggering 5,200% increase from the 450 encounters recorded the previous year, according to CBP data. Patel told lawmakers that approximately 178,000 Chinese nationals attempted to cross the southern border between 2022 and 2025.
Patel cautioned that the strengthened security along the southern border could inadvertently create new vulnerabilities in the north. He argued that US adversaries are likely to replicate previously successful tactics used in sectors with less intensive security presence, now focusing their efforts on exploiting the less-fortified northern border.
