U.S. Border Patrol's Blaine Sector Targeted Enforcement Unit arrested a Guatemalan citizen near Lynden, WA on May 5, 2026, according to a statement posted by the agency. The individual was found to be illegally present in the United States and is now awaiting removal proceedings, federal officials said.
The Blaine Sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection covers a wide swath of northwestern Washington State, including all of Whatcom County. The sector's Targeted Enforcement Unit focuses on interior enforcement operations, distinct from the port-of-entry inspections that occur at Peace Arch and other border crossings. Lynden, located in the rural agricultural flatlands of Whatcom County roughly five miles south of the Canadian border, sits within the sector's regular patrol area.
No additional identifying information was released about the individual, and no other arrests were announced in connection with this incident. Border Patrol did not indicate whether the arrest was connected to any other investigation or whether additional subjects were sought.
Enforcement actions in this area continue to be regular occurrences. Whatcom County's proximity to the Canadian border and its mix of farmland, rural roads, and established communities makes it a consistent area of activity for federal immigration enforcement. Lynden in particular is home to a significant agricultural workforce, and immigration enforcement actions in and around the city have been a subject of ongoing community discussion for years.
The individual arrested is now in federal custody and subject to removal proceedings through Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The timeline and venue for those proceedings were not included in the Border Patrol announcement.
Residents with concerns or information related to border security matters in Whatcom County can contact the Blaine Sector at the numbers listed on the CBP Blaine contact page. Community members with questions about their rights or the rights of others during immigration enforcement encounters can find resources through ACLU of Washington.
