Illegal immigrants entering the United States across the northern border with Canada are factoring in state and local sanctuary policies when deciding where to go once in the country.
In an interview with Fox News, immigration attorney and former Connecticut Senate candidate Peter Lumaj said human smugglers are adapting quickly to US enforcement patterns. He described smugglers as “very sophisticated” and able to “read what’s happening in a certain country, whether it’s the United States, Canada, or Mexico.”
Lumaj noted that some migrants are now attempting to cross into Canada from the US, believing they are less likely to be caught there. At the same time, migrants who do stay in the US often consider which states and cities offer the most favorable sanctuary protections. He pointed to Connecticut as an example, which has expanded protections for illegal immigrants.
“There are almost 1,200 detainees in Connecticut right now whose holds are not being respected by state leaders,” he explained. “That violates federal law and the Constitution’s supremacy clause. When states reward illegal immigration with driver’s licenses, in-state tuition, and sanctuary protections, it entices more migrants to come.”
Lumaj argued that such policies not only undermine federal agencies but also create “shopping grounds” where migrants seek out the most welcoming jurisdictions.
“Every state has become a border state,” he said. “When millions come in, they’re going to look for where they get the greatest benefits. The smugglers know this, the traffickers know this, and they’re taking advantage of the chaos.”
He also warned about the human toll of smuggling operations, which often target young men between 18 and 35 who can physically endure long and dangerous crossings.
“I have personally handled cases where people were abandoned in the middle of nowhere, on the verge of losing their lives, before they stumbled into Border Patrol officers begging for help,” Lumaj said. “Smugglers have no mercy. It’s about money.”
