The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the arrest of nineteen undocumented migrants in southern Quebec on Thursday evening, December 26, 2024. The group, all of Haitian origin, had illegally entered Canada from the United States and were discovered hiding in freezing woodland conditions.
Search in Extreme Cold Leads to Arrests
According to police, the operation began after the RCMP received a tip from U.S. Border Patrol shortly before 6 p.m. Approximately an hour later, officers located fifteen individuals concealed in the woods near Havelock, Quebec, a community roughly 53 kilometres south of Montreal.
The search continued for several hours in what the RCMP described as "extreme cold." By about 10:30 p.m., all nineteen people were accounted for and taken into custody. The migrants ranged in age from one year old to 60 years old.
Medical Treatment and Asylum Requests
All nineteen individuals have formally requested asylum in Canada. Following their discovery, eight were transported to a hospital for medical assessment. Police confirmed that six of those required treatment for frostbite sustained during their time outdoors. Two young children from the group were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
Ongoing Investigation and Vehicle Seizure
In a related development, the RCMP arrested another man under the Customs Act. Authorities stated they had reason to believe he was in the area to pick up several of the migrants using his vehicle. That vehicle has been seized by police, and the investigation remains active.
The RCMP issued a stern warning about the dangers of illegal border crossings, particularly during winter months. "People who cross illegally are often poorly equipped and inadequately dressed for the weather. The terrain is also very difficult to access in certain areas," the police statement read, emphasizing the risks posed to both migrants and responding officers.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges at unofficial border crossings and the severe humanitarian risks involved, especially as temperatures plummet across the region.
