As Customs and Border Protection continues to move forward with a plan to build its new station along the St. Lawrence River, it has zeroed in its search to two locations.

However, locals are fighting back, saying neither spot is acceptable. Residents voiced their thoughts loud and clear at a recent event where CBP attempted to make its case.

What You Need To Know

  • Customs and Border Protection needs to build a new station in Jefferson County to replace its aging station on Wellesley Island

  • CBP's current options include Blind Bay and a piece of shoreline that is home to rental cottages; agencies like the Save the River and Thousand Islands Land Trust set up shop at two open houses hosted by CBP, to allow their voices to be heard and the communities

  • The CBP says its station must be on the shore for mission readiness and adequate response times, but says it will consider the public's thoughts, while being transparent and collaborative as the process continues

  • The public fears eminent domain could be in play

“You’ve got to stay hopeful in a process like this. We have now invested two and a half years of time, resources, and passion. There's no question that's going to take another 18 to 24 months to get a final selection,” Thousand Islands Land Trust Executive Director Jake Tibbles said.

It was a two-day open house.

Customs and Border Protection shared information in the form of data points as to why it has selected both Blind Bay and a nearby shoreline property that currently sits rental cottages as its current options to relocate from its aging, out-of-date home on Wellesley Island.

The event drew hundreds each day, but probably not for the reasons CBP was hoping.

“It feels like the community's really trying to voice their feelings and their thoughts about how this is just not a good idea,” Save the River Assistant Director Bridget Wright said.

“We're just so pleased to see the community come out in overwhelming support for opposition of siting the facility on Blind Bay, but also on the immediate waterfront and in those waterfront neighborhoods,” Tibbles added.

TILT is the agency that owns Blind Bay, which many believe to be the CBP’s preferred location. Members of his agency joined members of Save the River to post up outside the event each day, to share their story as to why the CBP needs to go back to the drawing board.

“Blind Bay is truly characteristic of the Thousand Islands ecology. It is just a beautiful place,” Tibbles said, referencing not only the beauty of the land, but the ecosystem that also presents a rare breeding ground for muskies.

Customs and Border Protection declined a Spectrum News 1 interview request at the open houses.

State Assemblyman Scott Gray, though, said he understands the CBP has outgrown its current home and is calling for the agency to work with the locals, not against them. He’s calling this a "classic stalemate."

“The whole idea is to break the logjam here and for Border Patrol to understand how adamantly opposed the community is,” Gray said, adding he’s hopeful the two sides will eventually come together on a site that may not be perfect for all, but acceptable for both.

The other issue at play is how Customs and Border Protection would acquire Blind Bay, should it choose to do so. TILT isn’t selling it to the agency. The concern is eminent domain.

“You throw out eminent domain and you throw out locations unilaterally that, you know, the community hasn't had a say in and this is what you get. You get hundreds of people showing up,” Gray said, adding he isn’t sure the CBP has been as open with the public as it can be.

Eminent domain, he continued, is never the answer.

A few days after the open houses, CBP sent Spectrum News 1 a statement, saying it requires a site to be on the shore for mission readiness and adequate response time. The agency added that it is committed to transparency and collaboration throughout the process.