Tuesday April 15, 2025
US Border Inspection Station at the Pacific Highway crossing
Mogadishu (HOL) — U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a Somali national after he illegally crossed into the United States from Canada, amid renewed efforts by the Trump administration to enforce stricter immigration policies nationwide.
The man, identified as Yusuf Mohamed Ali, was taken into custody on Thursday, April 10, near Blaine, Washington, after entering from southern Surrey, British Columbia. U.S. officials later confirmed that Ali has a prior immigration and criminal history, including narcotics-related offences. He has been charged under 8 U.S. Code § 1326—illegal reentry after removal—and is expected to be deported to Somalia.
The arrest comes amid a broader policy shift under President Donald Trump, who has reintroduced a more aggressive approach to immigration. Earlier this year, the administration expanded its travel ban to include more than 40 countries, including Somalia. It has also renewed plans to deport up to one million undocumented immigrants in its first year, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations.
Somali nationals—many of whom arrived in the U.S. as refugees or under humanitarian protection—have been particularly affected. The administration's reevaluation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and refugee resettlement programs has left hundreds in legal limbo, with mounting fears of removal to a country still enduring conflict, drought, and widespread economic hardship.
Ali's arrest also spotlights a growing trend of irregular migration across the U.S.-Canada border as more individuals attempt to circumvent strict visa regimes and legal pathways. Blaine, a major land crossing in the Pacific Northwest, has become a focal point for such crossings in recent years.
While an investigation into Ali's case is ongoing, immigration authorities have indicated that swift removal proceedings will be pursued under expedited protocols.
Community leaders and advocacy groups are calling for greater legal support and safeguards to protect vulnerable migrants—especially those from conflict-affected countries like Somalia—as the Trump administration's hardline stance shapes the trajectory of U.S. immigration policy.
Yusuf Mohamed Ali, a Somali national arrested near Blaine, Washington, for illegally reentering the United States from Canada. He faces deportation under federal immigration law. Photo credit: / U.S. Border Patrol