On Christmas evening, a group of nineteen migrants of Haitian origin was apprehended in the Havelock area of Montérégie after they illegally crossed the border from the United States into Canada. The diverse group comprised individuals whose ages ranged from one year to sixty, including a three-year-old child.

According to Canadian authorities, the United States Border Patrol alerted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday regarding the group's illegal crossing. Subsequently, a search operation was initiated by officers from the Champlain Integrated Border Police Team (IBPT), with assistance from officers from the Valleyfield IBPT.

The first group of fifteen migrants was discovered in hidden locations within the woods shortly before 7 p.m. Following this, officers continued searching the area until approximately 10:30 p.m. in an effort to locate the remaining individuals from the group, as conditions were described as "extremely cold" that evening.

During the course of the search, eight individuals required medical attention and were taken to a local hospital. Of these, six migrants received treatment for frostbite, highlighting the perilous conditions these individuals faced during their attempted crossing. Additionally, the two young children found among the group were also taken to the hospital as a precaution. Fortunately, authorities noted that based on available information, their lives were not in danger.

All those intercepted were reported to have applied for asylum in Canada. Their cases are now being handled by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which will process their claims moving forward.

In a related incident, a man was arrested by patrol officers who suspected he was waiting nearby to pick up several of the migrants in his vehicle. Authorities seized the car as part of the investigation into the situation. The RCMP took this opportunity to remind the public of the significant dangers associated with attempting to cross the border illegally, especially during the harsh winter months when individuals may not be adequately prepared to handle the extreme cold.

This event sheds light on the ongoing challenges and dangers faced by migrants seeking asylum, particularly those attempting to cross the Canadian border during winter. It emphasizes the need for careful consideration and awareness of the risks involved in such perilous journeys.