Border visit april 1, 2018

Sunday, April 1st, 2018. 3.45 - 5pm. Roxham Road USA
A total of 21 people crossed into Canada this afternoon. First four Nigerian families crossed. This included two families composed of single mothers, one with 3 children and the other with four (one an adolescent). The two other families were couples, one with two young boys and the other with a girl and two boys. The RCMP officer who intervened with these families spoke to them kindly. He then left and was replaced by an older officer.  Then a Honduran family arrived, led by a teenage boy about 16 years old and his mother (who spoke only Spanish) who was carrying a baby boy. They had only a small suitcase and a backpack for the three of them. The tone of the officer was intimidating. They were told they would be arrested and to go to the Lacolle border crossing. The teenage boy turned to ask the Bridges Not Borders volunteer what they should do. The volunteer informed him that it was their decision, but that they would indeed be arrested if they crossed. She also briefly explained why some people crossed at Roxham rather than at a regular point of entry, without trying to influence his decision. He then led his family back before the officer who once again told him he would be arrested and added "you will go to jail".  With an uncertain nod to his mother who followed him, they crossed into Canada.