When someone crosses the border between ports of entry into Canada, it falls under the purview of the RCMP’s Border Enforcement Team. When someone crosses over from Canada to the U.S., Customs and Border Protection are the ones responsible on the American side of the border.

Unintentional border crossings are something which happens, in particular in Saskatchewan, where there are 632 kilometres of border, and 12 ports of entry. With little to demarcate the border in much of the area, people have been known to cross over.

Kris Grogan is a regional press officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He explained there are protocols for when it happens.

“In the instance, somebody does cross over inadvertently, we ask they call the nearest port of entry and make themselves known, and inform the individual that they do believe they have crossed and want to report in legally to the United States,” Grogan said.

Occasionally, the person who has crossed over is spotted by a Border Patrol unit on the American side. In those situations, things are a little different.

“If someone inadvertently does cross, and they run into one of our United States Border Patrol agents, they will be questioned,” Grogan stated. “There could be fines and such if it is known they purposely made an illegal entry into the United States.”

For the most part, incidents of people accidentally crossing over are fairly rare. Grogan said with technology becoming a huge factor in day to day life, it could become even more unusual to accidentally cross the border.

“It’s very easy to figure out where you’re at, and your surroundings and make sure you don’t make an illegal entry into the United States because there are fines and repercussions for that.”

READ MORE:What Happens if U.S. Citizens Enter Canada Illegally