A man has been found dead near an unofficial border crossing south of Montreal that is illegally used by thousands of foreign nationals each year to cross into Canada from the United States to seek asylum.
The man’s body was found at about 2.45 p.m. on Jan. 4 in a wooded area in St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., near Roxham Road, Quebec’s police service said on Jan. 5.
Ruel did not say whether the body showed any sign of violence or indication of the cause of death, the media outlet reported, but the spokesman said police have embarked on what could be a lengthy investigation into the causes and circumstances surrounding the death.
Refugee claimants who enter Canada from the United States at an official border checkpoint are automatically turned back under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement.
People who enter through Roxham Road, however, are generally allowed to remain in Canada pending their hearing dates.
As a result, many seek out illegal crossings at the checkpoint where claimants can arrive by car or taxi and walk the few feet across the border.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault has pressed the Liberal government to close Roxham Road, saying the province cannot handle the influx of refugees.