border visit april 22, 2018

Sunday April 22nd, 2018.  3.45 pm - 5pm. Roxham Road, USA .
A much warmer day but the wind was still chilly so people did take some hats and gloves. A total of 11 people (8 adults and 3 children) crossed over today. 

First came a french speaking couple of African origin.  5 RCMP officers met them. The  officer speaking to them was unfriendly, asking if they had really read the sign and that this was not the way to come in and it was not a god way to start of life in Canada. The couple walked over quickly which put a stop to any further conversation.  Next came a single Nigerian women with 2 children about 8 years old. They were also met by  5 RCMP officers but the officer speaking to them was friendly. He  told them to read the sign and they would be arrested. It was their choice. They crossed without much hesitation. Soon after this, 3 Haitian women and a baby arrived with lots of suitcases, a stroller and a car seat. The same RCMP officer spoke with them, speaking in Creole in a friendly way.  The taxi driver was allowed to help them with their suitcases right across the border and then the other RCMP officers took over helping with the suitcases.

​Finally  2 young Colombian women in their 20's with just backpacks arrived. There were no RCMP officers at the border.  The BnB volunteer spoke with them in Spanish. They were very nervous and one had tears in her eyes. They took a couple of hats and asked what they should do. The volunteer showed them where to cross which they did. No RCMP appeared and the two reached the barrier at Roxham Road, Canada side before  they were stopped by officers.