Image Credit: CBP 
Border authorities captured four foreigners who rode a raft across a frigid river separating the U.S. and Canada last week.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) just released details about the bust, which unfolded on March 15 near Buffalo, New York.
U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents responding to reports of an illegal entry via the Niagara River spotted an adult male near a rubber raft on the snowy bank.
They then encountered an adult male from Ireland, an adult female from the United Kingdom, and their baby hiding behind a nearby tree.
Agents determined the man operating the raft was a Mexican citizen who was illegally present in the U.S.
He was arrested and charged with human smuggling, unlawful entry into the U.S., and child endangerment.
The Irishman was wanted on felony assault charges in Rhode Island and was previously deported in June 2025.
He was taken into custody and will be extradited to Rhode Island.
The woman and the infant were processed and returned 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 USBP Buffalo Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato.
“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.”
