SAINT-ARMAND — Despite the much-publicized closure of Roxham Road three weeks ago, the comings and goings along the Canada-US border continue unabated, particularly in Saint-Armand in Estrie, where residents have noticed an increase in travel.
• Also read: Saint-Armand: a second Roxham Road home
“It’s increased in the past few weeks. I met some while shopping, they are not dangerous, they are the ones who hide when they see us. It’s sad, they’re poor people,” says André Labelle, a resident of this small community of 1,200 souls that borders Vermont.
The Journal met him last September when a smuggler’s car got stuck on his property. In reality, the front of the minivan was at home, while the rear was in the US city of Highgate, across the border.
Photo Martin Alari
André Labelle in September 2022, waking up one morning to a semi-abandoned minivan on his property.
After several steps, the Sûreté du Québec finally agreed to tow the vehicle off their property. But three other cars left in his American neighbor’s cornfield, which were already there during our visit, didn’t move.
“I’ve campaigned for months for them to be removed, but no one seems to care but me. The good news is that a raccoon made it his home and he didn’t get cold this winter,” he laughs.
police and helicopters
Several other Saint-Armand residents told the Journal that they had noticed a major influx of migrants since late March, when the closure of Roxham Road in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle was announced. The presence of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on land and in the air has also increased near the border in recent weeks.
“There are definitely more police and helicopter patrols,” says André Labelle.
Robert Lussier, who met while sunbathing on the balcony of his home a few steps from Vermont, also noted a larger presence from Canadian and American authorities since late March.
“We feel them more since they closed Roxham,” he said. Even the Americans have cameras everywhere. I can’t even enjoy my country freely anymore, for example they see me on their cameras when I want to go cross-country skiing. »
Photo Martin Alari
RCMP cameras are installed all over the forests around the border.
MARTIN ALARIE / THE MONTREAL JOURNAL
RCMP cameras are installed all over the forests around the border.
Also to the USA
But it’s not just migrants in Saint-Armand, recalls Mary Mcnamara, whose property protects a road heavily used by people trying to cross illegally to get to the United States. She estimates that her country allows at least one group of people to travel to Vermont every day. In fact, she was not awakened until dawn Thursday morning by RCMP officers and their intense searchlights attempting to intercept a group of Hispanic descent who had been spotted on cameras crossing.
“We were told by RCMP officers that mainly Mexicans come here by plane as they don’t need a visa (to enter Canada). Then they will join the United States at the land border,” explains the one overflowing with empathy and respect for these travelers.
Frederique Giguère / JdeM
Mary Mcnamara often sees people crossing the border into the United States on her own land at Saint-Armand in Estrie.
have a coffee
Mrs. Mcnamara has even invited families to come for coffee or to chat on the phone. She has also kept in touch with a Colombian couple and hopes to meet their newborn one day.
“They are not mean people, I think we would all benefit from being more human towards these people. They arrive with almost nothing, hardly any luggage, all very sad. »
Police appear to have intercepted fewer and fewer people since Roxham Road was closed on March 25, according to a compilation provided by the RCMP. These numbers were to be expected, however, as migrants used to easily pass through the erratic Roxham path without hiding, whereas now they must be discreet.
RCMP interceptions since late April:
- March 25-31: 194 asylum seekers
- April 1-7: 36 asylum seekers
Source RCMP