The theory that there is an active network of smugglers in the area can no longer be discounted following the interception of six Iraqi migrants on Tuesday, September 29 in the Municipality of Dundee.
According to Camille Habel, spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), a number of leads are being looked at, but the federal police can not confirm anything at the moment.
“The theory that there is an organization bringing migrants into Canada appears to make sense, but I don’t know if this is the case. It’s the Immigration Division that investigates a case like this. It’s unusual for us to comment on this kind of situation because we don’t want to hurt the investigation,” emphasized Ms Habel.
According to a piece published in La Presse, some 15 Syrian and Iraqi migrants entered Canada illegally through the Municipality of Dundee. The article goes on to say that a number of refugees have talked about leaving their country by airplane for the United States, often coming through New York.
Also very strange; a resident of Dundee told a Montreal daily that more than 15 migrants have crossed the border on his property over the last few weeks. “In effect there are odd similarities. All these people appear to be crossing at the same place. Once again, the theory of a smuggler’s network is not a bad one, but nothing has been confirmed by the RCMP.”
The spokesperson goes on to say that, it is not unusual for the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield RCMP to get involved in the Haut-Saint-Laurent over this kind of issue.
“Usually, the Sûreté du Québec involves us because it’s a federal jurisdiction. We then turn the file over to Immigration Canada. It’s important to understand that the person involved is committing an offense against the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.”
Asked for his opinion, the former mayor of Huntingdon, Stéphane Gendron now a resident of Dundee, questions the reality of the situation. “I’ve been living in this municipality for nearly four years now, and this is the first time I’ve heard anything about it. What I find strange, is that someone arriving at the airport in New York would cross the border through the woods in Dundee. It seems like a long way round. Maybe there is a network,” wondered Gendron.
The Mayor of Dundee, Jean Armstrong, was contacted for her comments on the event. “It’s recent. I don’t really know what to think. It’s obvious that it’s not a good idea to cross the border through woods,” was the mayor’s explanation while adding that she didn’t know if this could be the result of a network of migrant smugglers.
Entering Canada illegally
Articles 18 and 117 in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act are clear.
-Article 18: Every person seeking to enter Canada must appear for an examination to determine whether that person has a right to enter Canada or is or may become authorized to enter and remain in Canada.
-Article 117: No person shall organize, induce, aid or abet the coming into Canada of one or more persons knowing that, or being reckless as to whether, their coming into Canada is or would be in contravention of this Act.
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
