With just one week before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Quebec is ramping up border security to address concerns about illegal crossings into the United States. Public Security Minister François Bonnardel announced Tuesday that the province is prepared to deploy an additional 300 police officers within 48 hours if illegal migration surges.
Bonnardel highlighted the Swanton sector—a region spanning parts of Quebec, Ontario, Vermont, and New York—as a priority. In 2024, this area accounted for 70% of illegal crossings from Canada into the U.S., with 19,000 of the 26,000 crossings occurring there.
“So we must put 80% of the future efforts … in this sector to show Americans there is a decline in the coming months,” Bonnardel said.
The largest percentage of migrants crossing into the U.S. from Canada are Indian nationals, who reportedly enter Canada legally before attempting to cross the border, Bonnardel added.
Quebec is also tripling its contribution to the U.S.-led border enforcement security task force, increasing its number of provincial police officers from three to nine. These officers, coordinated by Homeland Security Investigations, work to combat organized crime at the border.
Currently, there are 800 federal and provincial officers operating in the Swanton sector, and Bonnardel noted that Quebec’s additional resources would ensure readiness for any sudden influx of migrants.
The Canadian federal government has pledged $1.3 billion to improve border security, but how that funding will be allocated remains unclear. Bonnardel will join Premier François Legault in Ottawa on Wednesday for a meeting with provincial and federal leaders to discuss border concerns and Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs if security measures are not improved.
Trump’s rhetoric about deporting illegal immigrants immediately upon taking office has raised concerns about a potential influx of migrants into Canada. Bonnardel acknowledged the risk and emphasized the need for proactive measures.
“I can’t sit back,” he said. “We have to prepare to face a possible flow (of migrants) in the coming days, the coming weeks.”
For now, there is no indication of an imminent surge in migration. However, Quebec’s efforts to bolster border security underline the seriousness with which Canadian officials are addressing Trump’s demands.