‘Border runner’ arrested in B.C. as illegal crossings becoming ‘more common’: police

An Abbotsford police vehicle is seen in this image from the department's Facebook page. (Credit: Facebook/AbbyPoliceDept)

A man who illegally crossed the Canada-U.S. border on foot in B.C. Wednesday was arrested, according to authorities, who say these incidents are on the rise.

The Abbotsford Police Department said the “border runner” was taken into custody around 9 p.m. near Zero Avenue and Mt. Lehman Road.

“A police service dog assisted in the arrest, and the man was turned over to CBSA,” a social media post from the department said.

Wednesday’s arrest is the third so far this year made by municipal officers in Abbotsford.

“Unfortunately, illegal border crossings in Abbotsford are becoming more common,” a spokesperson for the Abbotsford Police Department said in a statement to CTV News.

In 2025, the department responded to 42 illegal border crossings.

“That number reflects only the incidents handled by our officers, not those managed by RCMP teams working in the area,” the statement to CTV News explained.

All of those arrested were subsequently turned over to federal border officials.