Numbers of Asylum Seekers entering Canada at Roxham Road less than last year

Following the lower trends in January (871 people) and February (800 people), only 967 people crossed irregularly into Quebec  in March 2019.   In March 2018 a total of 1884 people entered. 

For the first three months of this year,  the number of people entering via Roxham Road is 46% less than in 2018.  

Sunday  April 14,  2019. Afternoon. Roxham Road, USA.
A crisp spring day - still quite chilly.  Three people crossed into Canada today while we were there.

The first taxi brought a young woman from Zimbabwe. She was anxious and totally focused on crossing as quickly as possible.  She acknowledged that she understood the RCMP officer's message and quickly crossed over.

A second taxi arrived with a mother and son (aged about 14) from Nicaragua, and not warmly dressed. They were very nervous but very friendly and were grateful to receive some warm things.  The mom was a bit surprised to hear it could still be cold here in April.   When  we said that this was  El  Norte , she smiled to hear some Spanish.   They entered Canada without incident.

RCMP officers stuck to their protocol and behaved appropriately. 

Sunday April 7, 2019. Evening. Roxham Road, USA.
No one arrived while we were at the border today.

Sunday  March 31, 2019. Evening. Roxham Road, USA.

When we were entering the US at a local border crossing there was a delay. We said we were going to greet refugees at Roxham Road and the custom's officer decided to call someone to ask if it was OK for us to enter.  The call took a while and he must have been reassured, because he let us enter.

At 6:15 a taxi  pulled up with a lone passenger:  a tall black man who looked about 40 years old. He was not dressed for the weather but did not take any warm things. He was very anxious to cross: hurriedly getting his luggage and going to the border. He answered the RCMP in English and entered Canada without incident.

Sunday, March 24  2019.  Afternoon. Roxham Road, USA.

Four people crossed into Canada while we were at Roxham Road.  The first taxi brought a young man in his twenties from India. He had been some time in the USA but was afraid to return home. He
seemed hopeful when he crossed over, after saying he understood he would be arrested.

A bit later a second taxi brought a young family of African origin. The man accepted a hat and thanked us, but was afraid to say where he was from. He was trembling with fear. His wife seemed less afraid.  She was carrying their young child (about two years old) who pointed to her father and said ''My Daddy'' .  The little girl smiled at us as her mother walked into Canada.

The RCMP officers were low-key and respectful.