Ukrainian Men Charged For Illegally Entering The United States
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 7:15 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BURLINGTON, VT.- During the early morning hours of Monday, April 28, 2025, two Ukrainian nationals were taken into custody and jailed after illegally crossing the United States-Canadian border in Franklin County, Vermont.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Mykhailo Ivanchyn, 21, and Ihor Zelskyi, 27, of Ukraine, were each charged by federal criminal complaint with Illegally Entering the United States. Both men made their initial appearance in Federal Court in Burlington, Vermont, and were ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Kevin J. Doyle, pending future court proceedings.
Both Men Detected Crossing Northern Border
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher and charging information filed in the criminal complaint, at around 12:30 a.m., U.S. Border Patrol agents were alerted of at least two individuals wearing backpacks and walking south near the international border between the United States and Canada along the Sutton River in Franklin County, Vermont.
Border Patrol agents responded and apprehended Ivanchyn and Zelskyi, who were wearing backpacks and water waders. Neither man had obtained permission or legal authorization to enter or reside in the United States.
If convicted at trial, Ivanchyn and Zelskyi face up to 180 days in federal prison and immediate deportation proceedings. A U.S. District Court Judge, upon a finding of guilt, will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and their prior criminal history.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
