Mexican National Faces Human Smuggling Charges After Niagara River Crossing Attempt
U.S. Border Patrol agents have made a significant arrest following a dangerous illegal border crossing attempt across the Niagara River. On March 15, authorities apprehended Andres Carrillo-Hernandez, a Mexican national, who was operating a rubber raft carrying two adults and an infant from Canada into the United States.
Infrared Surveillance Leads to Interception
The incident began when border agents monitoring infrared cameras spotted individuals inflating a raft on the Canadian shoreline at Boyers Creek, a tributary near Niagara Falls, Ontario that feeds into the Niagara River. The subjects then boarded the raft and began crossing the upper Niagara River, heading to the United States shoreline, according to official statements from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Border agents initially intercepted the raft near the U.S. side, where they found Carrillo-Hernandez operating the vessel. Subsequent searches revealed an Irish man, a U.K. woman, and their infant hidden behind a nearby tree. All four individuals were taken into custody immediately.
Serious Charges Filed Against Smuggler
Carrillo-Hernandez faces multiple serious charges including:
- Human smuggling
- Unlawful entry into the United States
- Child endangerment
The human smuggling charges alone carry a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of ten years in prison. During questioning, Carrillo-Hernandez admitted to agents that he had been paid approximately $2,000 to transport the two adults and child from the Canadian shoreline to the United States via the rubber raft.
Additional Legal Complications for Other Individuals
The Irish man apprehended in the incident faces charges of illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported in June 2025. Authorities also discovered he was wanted in Rhode Island on felony assault charges and will be extradited there following the prosecution of his federal immigration charges.
The U.K. woman and her infant were processed by immigration authorities and subsequently removed to Canada. None of the individuals involved had authorization to enter the United States legally.
Border Patrol Officials Express Concern Over Reckless Behavior
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 Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D'Amato in an official press release. 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.
Carrillo-Hernandez made an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate and was held pending a detention hearing. The case highlights ongoing challenges along the U.S.-Canada border, particularly in the Niagara River region where the natural waterway creates both a geographical boundary and potential crossing point for illegal entry attempts.
The March 15 incident represents one of several recent border enforcement actions in the region, demonstrating continued vigilance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents monitoring the international boundary between Ontario and New York State.
