A Mexican citizen with a history of prior immigration removals and criminal arrests was taken into custody near Everson, Washington on April 13, 2026, by the U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector's Targeted Enforcement Unit. The individual, whose name was not released by the agency, is currently awaiting removal proceedings.
According to a public announcement from the Blaine Sector, the subject was arrested near Everson, a small city in eastern Whatcom County situated roughly 20 miles east of Bellingham, near the Nooksack River. Everson is part of the rural agricultural corridor that runs through the Nooksack Valley and sits not far from the Canadian border, an area that has historically seen cross-border movement activity.
Border Patrol noted that the subject has a prior arrest record in the United States including charges for hit and run and driving without a valid operator's license, in addition to multiple prior immigration removals. An individual with prior removal orders who re-enters the country may face enhanced criminal charges under federal immigration law, including felony re-entry after removal, in addition to civil removal proceedings.
The Blaine Targeted Enforcement Unit is a specialized component of the Blaine Sector, which covers Washington state and parts of Idaho. Targeted enforcement operations are typically focused on individuals with criminal records or prior immigration violations, as distinct from routine patrol activities along the border itself. The sector covers more than 93 miles of international border between Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Whatcom County's proximity to the border means federal immigration enforcement activity occurs here with some regularity. The county contains multiple ports of entry, including Peace Arch at Blaine, Pacific Highway at Blaine, and Lynden, as well as a network of rural roads and agricultural land that runs up to the boundary with British Columbia. The Nooksack Valley communities of Everson, Sumas, Nooksack, and Lynden lie within a corridor that sees periodic enforcement actions by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Border Patrol did not provide information about where the individual was initially encountered or the specific circumstances of the April 13 arrest beyond what was shared in the public announcement. The agency noted that the subject is currently awaiting removal proceedings, a civil immigration process separate from any potential criminal prosecution. Removal proceedings take place in immigration court under the jurisdiction of the Executive Office for Immigration Review within the Department of Justice.
Whatcom County residents with questions about border enforcement activity in their area or who have information relevant to an ongoing investigation can contact the Blaine Sector Border Patrol through their public information office. Reports about suspected illegal border crossings or other enforcement-related matters can be submitted anonymously through the agency's tip line.
The Blaine Sector regularly shares enforcement activity updates on social media as part of its public information program. The sector covers enforcement along the northern border in a region where terrain, weather, and agricultural land use patterns create a complex operating environment for law enforcement personnel.
