What I Saw at America’s Wide-Open Northern Border

Illegal crossings from Canada into the U.S. are on the rise, prompting concerns about extremely lax border security and staffing limitations. A placard hangs on the side of a house in the border town of Pohenegamook, Quebec, on March 2, 2017. The U.S.-Canada border crosses through the middle of the house. Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

A damaged pickup truck with no lights sped past me in the opposite direction in the middle of Malone, New York, up on America’s northern border with Canada. It was 5 p.m. on a dark winter evening, and the truck was going about 60, throwing off sparks and burning plastic. At least eight police cars were in pursuit. Seconds later, the 27-year-old driver crossed over the road and hit a stone monument. Amazingly, though he hit many cars on his mad ride, the guy didn’t kill anyone.