New Hampshire Governor Announces $1.4M Initiative to Boost Security at Canadian Border with Northern Border Alliance Task Force

Initiative follows trends showing increasing encounters with individuals on terrorist watch list along the northern border, with 10,000 additional law enforcement patrol hours set to enhance national safety.

Governor Chris Sununu and Attorney General John Formella have announced a $1.4 million initiative to boost security at the New Hampshire-Canadian border. The funds will be used to create the Northern Border Alliance Task Force, which will add 10,000 additional law enforcement patrol hours over the next 18 months.
The security initiative arises from data showing an increase in individuals from the terrorist watch list attempting to cross the northern border. The number of such cases has doubled in the area since 2017 and was said to exceed southern border encounters last fiscal year.
The majority of encounters with individuals from the FBI terror database at the US-Canada border occur at official ports of entry. The Swanton Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol reported an 846% increase in encounters and apprehensions from October 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2022.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire has criticized the new measures, citing a lack of state-specific data from Customs and Border Protection that would justify the actions. They argue that investing in housing, broadband, and substance use treatment should take priority.
Gov. Sununu has criticized the federal government for lack of support, claiming that requests for assistance have been denied. Despite the criticism and resistance from some quarters, Sununu maintains that the security concerns are grave and necessitate immediate action.