John Fulton, the Surfing Santa. (QMI Agency, file)

FORT ERIE, Ont. — U.S. border patrol agents plan to make sure Surfing Santa makes it across the Niagara River safely this year.

For the past 28 years, John Fulton, also known as Surfing Santa, has been dressing up like Santa and embarking on a wind-surfing trip across the Niagara River into the U.S. to bring attention to the plight of the homeless worldwide.

In the past, Fulton has had some run-ins with border patrol in the U.S. One year, he was arrested for illegally entering the country. But last year, U.S. border patrol rescued him after heavy winds snapped his mast halfway through his journey.

That's why U.S. border patrol offered to escort him across the river this year.