U.S. Border Patrol Vessel Seizure Serves as Reporting Requirement Reminder
GRAND FORKS, ND– U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the International Falls Border Patrol Station seized a vessel and issued a fine to a U.S. citizen failing to report his return to the United States after traveling to Canada.
Binational coordination yielded information about a man who had made landfall in Canada and returned to the U.S. in mid-July without reporting his arrival to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. On August 12, 2026, Border Patrol agents assigned to the International Falls Station encountered the man, a U.S. citizen serving as a local fishing guide, east of International Falls, Minnesota. During questioning, the man admitted to making landfall in Canada and returning to the U.S., via boat, without reporting his arrival to CBP.
Agents seized the boat used during the incident and issued him a fine for violating a U.S. Code, which states the master of a vessel arriving in the United States from a foreign port, a foreign vessel arriving from a domestic port, or certain other qualifying watercraft must immediately report the vessel’s arrival to CBP and present the vessel and its contents for inspection. For boaters on international waters this means: if you anchor, come into contact with another vessel/vehicle/snowmobile, or make landfall in a foreign country, you must report your arrival to CBP immediately.
Failure to comply may result in seizure of the vessel and the assessment of penalties. The first offense carries a $5,000 fine, while subsequent offenses may result in a $10,000 fine.
For those seeking to avoid fines and penalties, CBP offers the Reporting Offsite Arrival-Mobile app for water crossings in the Grand Forks Sector area of operations. The app allows individuals to report their arrival to CBP officers through kiosks or a mobile device. Please visit https://www.cbp.gov/travel/pleasure-boats/pleasure-boat-overview/roam for more information.
“We encourage everyone to take advantage of the recreational opportunities our international waters have to offer, but it’s imperative that you’re familiar with reporting requirements to avoid violations of law.” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Michael W. Hanson.
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