Nineteen individuals seeking asylum from Haiti were apprehended on Thursday night in the Havelock area of Montérégie, Quebec, as reported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP was informed about the group by the United States Border Patrol just before 6 p.m.
These asylum seekers, aged between one and 60, were intercepted after allegedly crossing the border illegally from the United States into Canada. The Champlain and Valleyfield integrated border enforcement teams located 15 individuals hiding in the woods around 7 p.m., with the search for the remaining individuals lasting until approximately 10:30 p.m. amidst extreme cold conditions.
Eight individuals, including six needing treatment for frostbite, were taken to the hospital. Additionally, two young children were brought to the hospital as a precaution, with no immediate life-threatening concerns reported.
One man was arrested under Section 117 of the Customs Act for suspected involvement in transporting some of the migrants with his vehicle. All intercepted individuals sought asylum and were handed over to the Canada Border Services Agency, while the vehicle was confiscated, and the investigation remains ongoing.