Mounties say a man is dead after he crossed from the United States into Canada at the Coutts Border Crossing in southern Alberta on Tuesday. It’s one of three incidents detailed by RCMP during a news conference in Edmonton on Wednesday about Canada’s border with the U.S.
The thing I don’t understand is that they’re also clearly not dressed for the cold American winter either, it’s not like the climate cares about the border.
If they were, for instance, originally from Mexico, living in Arizona, and out of fear decided to drive as far north as possible, then get across the Canadian border in a place without roadblocks, they wouldn’t even own snow clothes. They might have originally thought they could stay in the car the whole way. Or a smuggler dumped them out of a truck in the middle of nowhere.
You can start out somewhat prepared, but between where you’re running from and where you’re hoping to get, there’s a whole mini industry devoted to taking every last dime. Human traffickers will absolutely steal your shit. So many migrant workers regularly get their ID, permits and such yoinked, but those crooks will even steal the mitts off your hands. And if you’re a traumatized refugee, you’re an even easier mark.
Having friendlier borders actually makes things marginally safer for vulnerable people. Can’t have that.
That’s how a family died here in Manitoba a few years ago… their “guy” dropped them off a little ways from the border for them to hoof it the rest of the way… Rcmp found them later frozen in a field. Worst part is they had an 11 year old and a baby with them.
The thing I don’t understand is that they’re also clearly not dressed for the cold American winter either, it’s not like the climate cares about the border.
If they were, for instance, originally from Mexico, living in Arizona, and out of fear decided to drive as far north as possible, then get across the Canadian border in a place without roadblocks, they wouldn’t even own snow clothes. They might have originally thought they could stay in the car the whole way. Or a smuggler dumped them out of a truck in the middle of nowhere.
You can start out somewhat prepared, but between where you’re running from and where you’re hoping to get, there’s a whole mini industry devoted to taking every last dime. Human traffickers will absolutely steal your shit. So many migrant workers regularly get their ID, permits and such yoinked, but those crooks will even steal the mitts off your hands. And if you’re a traumatized refugee, you’re an even easier mark.
Having friendlier borders actually makes things marginally safer for vulnerable people. Can’t have that.
That’s how a family died here in Manitoba a few years ago… their “guy” dropped them off a little ways from the border for them to hoof it the rest of the way… Rcmp found them later frozen in a field. Worst part is they had an 11 year old and a baby with them.
They could have left travelling from a warmer state and just didn’t have/couldn’t afford warmer clothing.
I drive from Winnipeg to Iowa a lot and the difference is staggering.
There isn’t snow on the fields until you are north of Grand Forks.
A little further south and its sweater weather in January