CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. – On Wednesday morning, a citizen’s report led to the arrest of Yordan Galabov, 34, a citizen of Bulgaria near the Canadian border in Champlain, N.Y.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York is prosecuting Galabov for illegal entry under 8 USC 1325. At the conclusion of his criminal case, Galabov will be removed from the United States and returned to Bulgaria.
all-terrain vehicles patrol the international
border in New York. (file photo).
“The arrest of this criminal alien who illegally entered the United States illustrates the significant role that citizens can and do play in helping the U.S. Border Patrol secure our nation’s border,” stated Champlain’s Station Patrol Agent in Charge Norm Lague. “The concerned citizen’s call prevented a convicted felon from successfully entering the United States. If you see something, say something.”
Early Wednesday morning, Champlain Station Border Patrol agents received a citizen call reporting a man walking in a field about half a mile south of the border. Agents responded, located the man, and questioned him regarding his immigration status. He admitted he had entered the U.S. illegally. Agents placed him under arrest and transported him to the Champlain Station for additional records checks and processing.
Those checks revealed that Galabovhas a criminal conviction in Bulgaria that makes him inadmissable for entry into the United States.
The Swanton Sector is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The assistance of citizens is invaluable to the U.S. Border Patrol’s security mission and they welcome community members to help them keep our nation’s borders safe and report suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.
For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.