Last week four individuals, including an infant, died while trying to cross the international border east of Emerson during freezing cold temperatures.

Regional Connections Executive Director Steve Reynolds says, while he is unable to comment on the specifics of this particular case, it was difficult news to hear. His organization provides a "one-stop shop" of services and resources for newcomers living in south-central Manitoba.

“A couple thoughts regarding just the tragic news of the family at the border, which is really horrendous and has impacted a lot of people," Reynolds says. 

"Some of the questions we hear locally about why migrants may be attempting an irregular crossing like that at the border, It can be hard to relate to from the comfort of our homes in Canada sometimes. The desperation some people feel, and the situations some families find themselves in that really are life and death situations, or really desperate life circumstances, and that can motivate people to take risks, and to just try to find safety and try to find a better place to be for them and their families.”

He says there can be misconceptions about these situations.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about border crossings. They're called irregular border crossings. They're not technically illegal under the Refugee System. As part of the United Nations Refugee System, people are entitled to present themselves at the border, and make a claim for asylum. So, if they're coming from a country that's at war, or dangerous, and their lives are in danger, what we basically say as Canadians is, ‘You can present yourself here, and we will hear your story and hear your claim.’ It'll come before a judge, and a court and they will decide if that's a valid claim.” 

Reynolds describes a barrier that can prevent people from claiming asylum at a port of entry.

“One of the main reasons people cross the border irregularly between the U.S. and Canada is something called the Safe Third Country Agreement. Canada and the U.S. have that agreement, and people can only make that claim in one of the countries. And if they're already in one, they can't travel to the other one to make the claim there. An unintended consequence of that is, if somebody is in Canada, and feels they need to or want to make that asylum claim in the U.S., they're not allowed to cross the border from Canada to the US at a port of entry to do that, they would be turned back.” 

"The desperation some people feel, and the situations some families find themselves in that really are life and death situations, or really desperate life circumstances, and that can motivate people to take risks, and to just try to find safety and try to find a better place to be for them and their families.”

As a result, Reynolds cautions those reaching out to people who may offer help, but are in it for the wrong reasons.

“People don't know how to make that crossing. They don't know what's involved, or the logistics, they're looking for help, not everybody, but at times they're looking for help, and that's where human smuggling comes in, and obviously, we would advise strongly against anybody considering that kind of pathway. Human smugglers are people who are looking to profit off of a crisis, or an emergency of a family in need, and so there's just a lot of risk and danger involved in, and getting involved with, human smugglers.’

He gave context to the United Nations Refugee System, sharing it was created after World War II when tragic lessons were learned about the millions of innocent civilians who died because they were unable to get out of the way of the war. For example, there was a ship of Jewish refugees that left Europe, and was denied entry into Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, and had to go back to Europe and many of those people died.

“The whole refugee system was a lesson learned from the Second World War and the importance that if somebody does show up at your border, and has a claim that their life is in danger and they can't go back to their country, you will at least give that claim a fair hearing with a judge and in a court.  That's really important, and I think people don't always know that, and there are still people in those situations. Today there are countries at war today, and people who are in life and death situations in their home country, and I think it's a really good thing Canada would give those people a fair hearing, and their claims a fair hearing, if they show up here.”

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Written by Robyn Wiebe

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