Border visit 15 May 2022

We got to the border around 3:00 pm. We picked up garbage and took a few poignant photos of things left behind (see photos)... Cell phone, torn up documents, food containers, a baby sandal, a juice box, next to the orange cone.

At 3:30 pm, three taxis pulled up. The taxi driver told us they were all French-speaking, from DR Congo, and possibly other African countries. There were 3 women, 3 children (all children seemed to be in one family, including an infant), and 9 men. 

They were recited the usual 'welcome' of "Do not cross here it is an Illegal crossing. If you cross here, you will be put under arrest....You can go cross at the legal port of entry a few miles East of here....". They were made to stand outside and processed small group by small group, going into the plastic tent. (It must be very hot there in the summer heat?) Luckily the group with kids went first. They were asked to put their cell phones in their suitcase, and they could put money (bills and necessary medication in their pockets). Cards were to be put in their suitcases.

At 3:45 pm, a fourth taxi pulled up with three men in it, also French-speaking, dressed in winter coats. There was only one RCMP officer watching the first outside group at that time, so the newcomers were not greeted, nor given the "welcome spiel". They just  crossed and joined the other group, so RCMP protocol was not followed.

It was 4:15 pm when the last person went into the tent. It was very buggy, and at 4:05 pm the guard watching the group outside went in to get some bug spray, leaving the group unattended for a short while.

A total of 18 people crossed during the time we were there. We left around 4:45 pm.

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