(WNY News Now) – A Russian mother seeking asylum in Canada pleaded guilty to resisting a U.S. federal immigration officer, marking an unsettling incident at the Peace Bridge border crossing.
BUFFALO, N.Y.—Olesia Sumina, 43, of Russia, admitted guilt in federal court to resisting a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer and was sentenced to time served. The plea, announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, underscores tensions in immigration enforcement at international borders.
The incident unfolded on October 9, 2024, when Sumina traveled to Canada with her two children to seek asylum. Her claim was rejected by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which transported her to the Peace Bridge Port of Entry in Buffalo, New York. During the journey, CBSA officers noted Sumina’s disruptive behavior, including spitting inside their vehicle.
Upon arrival, CBP officers attempted to interview Sumina using a language translation application, but communication broke down. Sumina refused to cooperate, hesitated to share personal information, and became defensive when officers sought access to her mobile phone. According to prosecutors, when officers tried to retrieve the device from her pocket, Sumina resisted and turned physically aggressive, disregarding multiple commands to comply.
The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
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