Three foreign nationals have been caught attempting to enter Canada illegally via a railway bridge near Niagara Falls, where a vehicle was waiting for them on the Canadian side, according to the RCMP.
Three individuals were seen attempting to enter Canada on April 13 through the Fort Erie train bridge, which links Ontario with Buffalo, New York, Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP said in a May 1 release. One of the migrants was detained immediately, while another fled on foot and was later apprehended.
A third migrant managed to enter a waiting vehicle, which nearly struck various RCMP members while trying to drive away, police said. Both the migrant and the driver surrendered to authorities ten days later.
A Cuban national, Alexander Cardenas, was assessed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and found not eligible to enter Canada. He was returned to the United States.
His wife, Yenny Justo, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested and charged with one count of dangerous operation of a conveyance, as well as one count of conspiracy and fail to report under the Customs Act, officials said.
“The strategic deployment of RCMP Border Integrity Officers between the Ontario Ports of Entry has proven to be a successful tactic in preventing illegal migration into Canada,” said RCMP Superintendent Dale Foote.
Justo was held for a bail hearing in St. Catharines court, according to the press release. All three migrants were returned to the United States and Justo has been granted bail, an RCMP spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email.
“She remains in Canada on a Surety with a future court date on the Criminal charges,” the spokesperson said.
Details about Justo’s immigration status and her time in Canada are not publicly available, as they are protected under the Privacy Act, CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer told The Epoch Times.
The RCMP has arrested several individuals in recent months attempting to illegally enter Canada.
In mid-March, authorities arrested a Cuban national who tried to enter Canada by running across the Fort Erie railway bridge, the RCMP said in a press release last month. He was deemed ineligible to enter the country and was returned to the United States the same day.
The railway bridge is currently under full-time monitoring by the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit, which is tasked with tackling cross-border smuggling into and from Canada. RCMP members conduct patrols along this area’s border on land, water, and air.
The issue of border security gained renewed attention after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada unless the country took steps to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across the two countries’ shared border.
In response, Ottawa launched a $1.3 billion border plan last December that included the creation of a North American task force to target organized crime, funding for helicopters, drones, and surveillance towers to ensure continuous monitoring between ports of entry, among other measures.
Several provinces have also rolled out their own border security initiatives, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s “Operation Deterrence,” a plan aimed at disrupting illegal border crossings, as well as drug and gun smuggling.
The operation includes a team of 200 provincial police officers who will help guard the border using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones, boats, off-road vehicles, and foot patrol.
In its announcement about the Cuban national arrested in mid-March, the RCMP credited the Ontario Provincial Police for helping locate and arrest the man as part of “Operation Deterrence.”
“The RCMP is committed to working with our partners to protect the residents and communities of Canada,” the RCMP said in its April 3 press release. “Our collaboration with both the CBSA and OPP continues to provide positive results for Canada.”
