Three suspected smugglers and 44 migrants were intercepted overnight from Saturday to Sunday near Stanstead, in the Eastern Townships, as they attempted to cross the Canada–U.S. border illegally in a cube truck.
The operation, described as historic by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), took place amid already high volumes of traffic due to the end of the construction holiday.
The migrants — including men, women, and children — were crammed into the back of the truck without proper ventilation. According to Miguel Bégin, Director of the CBSA’s Eastern Border District, this is the first time in 25 years that he has witnessed an illegal entry attempt of this magnitude. He emphasized that the swift response near the border likely prevented more serious health consequences for those being transported.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), responsible for monitoring areas between official ports of entry, carried out the arrests with logistical support from the Sûreté du Québec, who assisted in transporting the migrants to the Stanstead border crossing.
Once at the port of entry, the CBSA conducted the initial processing of asylum claims, while an investigation was launched against the three individuals suspected of organizing the illegal crossing. The suspects have been formally charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) for facilitating or attempting to facilitate irregular entry into Canada, as well as for a violation of the Customs Act. They remain in custody until their court appearance scheduled for August 6.
Due to limited capacity at the Stanstead border facility, most of the migrants were redirected to the regional processing centre in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. Each case will be reviewed individually.
About ten individuals who did not meet the exemption criteria under the Safe Third Country Agreement have already been returned to the United States.
This operation comes amid a national decline in asylum claims. By the end of July 2025, there had been 22,237 claims filed across Canada, compared to more than 41,000 at the same time in 2024. In Quebec, the drop is also significant, with 14,874 claims this year, compared to 22,337 last year.
The CBSA reminds the public that anyone involved in organizing illegal border crossings faces serious consequences, including criminal charges, fines, imprisonment, and a criminal record.
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