OTTAWA—The number of people stopped by the RCMP after illegally entering Canada rose in March.
New figures released this week by the federal government show the RCMP intercepted 887 people crossing between official border points, up from 658 in February and 315 in January.
Of those stopped in March, 644 were picked up in Quebec, 170 in Manitoba, and 71 in B.C., with lone crossers nabbed in Alberta, and New Brunswick.
While none were picked up in Saskatchewan in the first three months of the year, on April 19 the RCMP said they charged a woman with human smuggling after intercepting nine refugee claimants crossing the border into that province from the United States on April 14.
Some of those coming to Canada in spots like Emerson, Man., have told authorities they were motivated to leave the United States because of the new administration, fearful their asylum claims won’t be treated fairly or that general anti-immigrant sentiment was rising.
Others have been found to have had Canada in their sights all along as their final destination, obtaining U.S. visas solely for the purpose of coming here.
All of this is under review, said a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.
“In co-operation with our partners, the government of Canada is constantly analyzing these trends and planning for possible developments,” said Scott Bardsley in an email.
