Border visit September 2, 2018

Sunday September 2, 2018.  Afternoon. Roxham Road, US. 

A hot day. 18 people (11 children and 7 adults) crossed into Canada today. Everyone was of African origin but since people were nervous and did not want to talk, we don't know where they came from or how long they might have been in the US.  First a lone woman arrived in a taxi. Next came a family of five (parents and three children). Finally two families arrived in three taxis - a family of five (parents and three children) and a family of seven (parents and five children).  Everyone crossed without incident.

However the RCMP did not always stick to their protocol. At one point the officer said to one group that '' It'll be much better for you to go to the official border crossing.''  This is incorrect as it is possible that someone who goes to the Lacolle port of entry to ask for asylum in Canada will be refused entry and sent back to the United States. This is due to the Safe Third Country Agreement which is the reason why people are crossing irregularly at Roxham Road and other places along the border.